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A32 sports
Diaranson 26 Januari 2022

Djokovic could play in France under latest vaccine rules

play in the French Open nated and those who recently
in May and June, the next France is registering Europe’s recovered from the virus.
Grand Slam tournament, highest-ever daily coronavi-
because he has said he tested rus infection numbers, and “To me, it’s not a problem
positive in mid-December. hospitals are continuing to (to show ID card) but I can
fill up with virus patients, perfectly imagine the kind of
The French sports ministry even though the number of downward spiral it could trig-
was not immediately avail- people in intensive care units ger – it’s like racial profiling,”
able to answer questions has dropped in recent days. said Tania Chauvin, 31, as she
from The Associated Press ate in a Paris restaurant.
on Djokovic. The government has im-
posed few other restrictions France, meanwhile, opened
French Open organizers amid the surge in the omi- up access to booster shots
have previously said it’s too cron variant, focusing instead Monday for 12- to 17-year-
early to comment since virus on the vaccine pass, approved olds.
restrictions can change be- by France’s parliament and
tween now and May depend- Constitutional Council last Djokovic’s Australian saga
(AP) — Top-ranked play- public places. ing on the virus situation. week. began when he was granted
er Novak Djokovic could an exemption to strict vacci-
be allowed to defend his As questions quickly arose Djokovic’s team also de- Critics question whether the nation rules by two medical
French Open title under about Djokovic’s status in clined to comment Mon- pass will make much differ- panels and the tournament
the latest COVID-19 rules France following his depor- day. Djokovic said earlier he ence in a country where 94% organizer in order to play in
adopted by the French tation from Australia, Sports would not give public state- of French adults have had at the Australian Open based
government, even if he is Minister Roxana Maracinea- ments until the end of the least one vaccine dose, and on documents he supplied
still not vaccinated when nu previously said that as Australian Open. scattered groups held pro- showing he had recently had
the clay-court Grand Slam soon as the law was passed tests Saturday against the COVID-19. He received
starts in May. the country’s vaccine pass Cafe owners and patrons in new law. The French govern- a visa to enter the country
would become compulsory Paris largely welcomed the ment hopes that it protects through an automated pro-
Djokovic was deported to enter stadiums, theater or new law, which is central to the most vulnerable and re- cess. But upon arrival, border
from Australia and barred exhibitions, “for all specta- the government’s anti-virus duces pressure on crowded officials said the exemption
from playing in the Austra- tors, practitioners, French or strategy. ICUs, where most patients was not valid and moved to
lian Open this month for foreign professionals.” are unvaccinated. deport him.
not meeting the country’s “Personally, it reassures me
strict COVID-19 vaccination But the vaccine pass is not re- in the sense that I know the Since last summer, France has In the end, Australian author-
rules. stricted to vaccination. people I have around me,” required a “health pass” to go ities revoked Djokovic’s visa,
said Parisian Charles Tuile. to any cafe, museum, movie saying his presence could stir
It initially appeared that the Under the law that took ef- “We want to be in a place theater or take a regional train up anti-vaccine sentiment
Serb tennis star would not fect on Monday, anyone who where we can be safe in terms or domestic flight. But until and that kicking him out was
be welcomed at Roland Gar- has proof they tested posi- of health. And if you can see Monday, unvaccinated peo- necessary to keep Australians
ros either under a new law tive within the previous six that the waiter checks vaccine ple could activate the pass by safe. He was deported a day
intended to exclude the un- months is exempt from hav- passes and even ID cards, getting a recent negative test. before the tournament got
vaccinated from stadiums, ing to show a vaccine pass. then it’s reassuring in many The new pass only works for underway in Melbourne.
restaurants, bars and other That suggests Djokovic could ways.” people who are fully vacci-
MLB players withdraw free agency shift as labor talks resume

(AP) — Locked-out Major liberalized free agency During a bargaining session modified its revenue-sharing ers earlier asked for a $100
League Baseball players when the sides met face- that lasted a little more than proposal, asking the amount million reduction.
removed the first of three to-face Monday for the two hours at the Midtown shifted from big markets to
major obstacles to a labor first time since the man- Manhattan office of the Ma- smaller ones be cut by what it Management is adamant not
contract, withdrawing agement lockout began jor League Baseball Players’ said was $30 million, a figure to decrease revenue sharing.
their proposal for more Dec. 1. Association, the union also management disputed. Play- Clubs also maintain they will
not budge on salary arbitra-
tion eligibility, which players
want to restore to its pre-
1987 level when it was two
years of major league service.
Another meeting in the con-
tentious talks is scheduled for
Tuesday, the first consecutive
sessions since the bargaining
collapse last fall that led to
baseball’s ninth work stop-
page, its first since 1995.
Neither side commented
publicly on the proposal, a
response to management’s
offer on Jan. 13 — made dur-
ing an online session that
was the first bargaining over
core economics after a 42-day
break. Details of the union’s
proposal were discussed by
two people familiar with the
negotiations who spoke on
the condition of anonymity
because no public statements
were authorized.