“Can’t Soften Our Stance’ – After Novak Djokovic, Russian Star Daniel Medvedev Takes the ‘Deportation’ Blow From Ex-Australian Sports Minister

Richard Colbeck was the sports minister of Australia during the Australian Open 2022. It was during this time that Novak Djokovic was deported back to Serbia due to his vaccination status. In a recent statement, the senator clarified his views on the matter. He also has a different opinion regarding the participation of Russian players in the tournament. The 64-year-old seasoned diplomat did not shy away from being candid about taking a stance against the government.

Richard Colbeck criticizes Tennis Australia for their misjudgment regarding Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open 2022. According to him, the deportation was unnecessary if the organizers had been more cautious with the entry requirements. He has also demanded that the organizers do not lift the ban on Russian players. Colbeck is of the opinion that Russian players should not be allowed to participate in the 2023 tournament.

Bringing in Novak Djokovic was “wrong” in 2022 AO?

Djokovic is in Australia right now preparing to clinch victory at the season’s first Grand Slam tournament. He should technically be under a three-year ban that was enforced after his deportation last year. However, Immigration Minister Andrew Giles reversing the ban made it possible for Novak to participate in the tournament.

Read more: Public Verdict on Novak Djokovic’s Australia Entry Revealed Amidst Controversy Surrounding Visa Approval

According to Colbeck, he had several meetings with Tennis Australia in 2022 but they chose to jump over his decisions and instead went by “wrong” advice. “I understand they wanted the world No.1 [player] here. There’s no hard feelings, but they ended up taking the wrong advice. Tennis Australia decided to follow advice from the Victorian CHO [chief health officer]and the panel he set up rather than the letter [the then health minister] Greg Hunt sent them regarding vaccination.”

Also, Colbeck is of the unpopular opinion that Medvedev and other Russian players should not take part in the tournament. While most tennis players are unitedly asking for Russian players to get their fair chance in tournaments, Colbeck says, “The decision I question now is letting Medvedev play. I don’t reckon any of them should be playing. Sport is one of those things that can send a message to a country. We can’t soften our stance on this stuff. The Russians are still doing outrageous things. I congratulate Wimbledon on the stance they took.”

Colbeck is inspired by the bans on cricket teams playing in South Africa during the apartheid. He wants Australia to send a strong message to Russia after their conflict with Ukraine. However, he justifies his opinion regarding Novak’s comeback, as the situation with Covid-19 is different in 2023. Colbeck further added that he really wishes he could have stopped what happened, but there was no way to do so since it was Australia’s Covid guidelines at the time.

Russian players are welcome to the Australian Open 2023

Earlier this year, Russian and Belarussian players suffered a ban at the Wimbledon Championships in 2022. Wimbledon was not just levied hefty fines from both WTA and ATP but also stripped of rankings points.

Craig Tiley, the CEO of Tennis Russia, confirmed in October 2022 about Russian players being allowed at the tournament this year. However, they will not be playing under the Russian flag. They will represent a neutral flag and participate under it in the AO 2023. Although Russian and Belarussian players are not too happy about this decision, it is the best offer on the table amidst international tensions.