Novak Djokovic attempted to use a previous COVID-19 diagnosis to receive a medical exemption to play in the Australian Open, according to the Associated Press.
Djokovic reportedly had COVID-19 in December, according to court papers filed by his lawyers. The Victoria state government allows medical exemptions for people who tested positive for COVID-19 in the last six months. That's why Djokovic received a medical exemption to play in the Australian Open. The event is hosted in Victoria, one of six states in the country.
Border authorities, however, did not accept Djokovic's previous COVID-19 diagnosis as an acceptable reason for a medical exemption, leading to Djokovic being detained and his visa being canceled.