Tennis star Novak Djokovic should set an example and get vaccinated against COVID-19, says Spanish Government spokesperson Isabel Rodriguez, when asked if he should be allowed to compete in Spain, where vaccination is not mandatory.
The world No.1 was deported from Australia before the Australian Open, despite entering the country unvaccinated on a medical exemption.
"What Mr Djokovic has to do is get vaccinated, that would be the most sensible thing to do," says Rodriguez.
"Leading by example is important, and this is indeed what our country's great sportsmen and women do. For example, Mr [Rafael] Nadal," she adds, referring to one of Djokovic's great rivals, with whom he is tied on 20 Grand Slam titles.
Even though vaccination is not mandatory in Spain, the vaccination rate is one of the highest in Europe.
Djokovic travels regularly to Spain, where he owns a house in the southern resort of Marbella. He spent a few days there in late December and early January, and video footage showed him training there.
Spanish rules currently require people to present either a vaccine certificate, a negative PCR test or a certificate of recovering from COVID-19 to enter the country, so Djokovic could compete in the Mutua Madrid Open between April 26-May 8, after testing positive for COVID-19 in December.
Madrid has no specific coronavirus-related rules for taking part in sporting events.
France says he would be barred from playing the French Open in May as things stand, because of a new vaccine pass law.
Djokovic is now in his native Serbia, where he received a hero's welcome.
Reuters
