Novak Djokovic has said he would rather miss out on future tennis trophies than be forced to get a Covid vaccine.

Speaking exclusively to the BBC, he said he should not be associated with the anti-vax movement, but supported an individual's right to choose.
Djokovic was asked if he would sacrifice taking part in competitions such as Wimbledon and the French Open over his stance on the vaccine.

"Yes, that is the price that I'm willing to pay," he said.

The 20-times Grand Slam winner was deported from Australia last month after the government cancelled his visa in a row over his vaccine status [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-60014059].

Djokovic, who is the world's number one men's tennis player, said he had obtained a medical exemption to enter the country to play in the Australian Open as he had recently recovered from Covid-19.
However, the country's immigration minister, Alex Hawke, personally cancelled the 34-year-old's visa, on the grounds that his presence could incite "civil unrest" and encourage anti-vaccine sentiment.

"I was never against vaccination," he told the BBC, confirming that he'd had vaccines as a child, "but I've always supported the freedom to choose what you put in your body."

In a wide-ranging interview, his first since he was detained in Melbourne in January, Djokovic addressed speculation about the timing of his positive Covid case in December and discussed his own attitude towards the vaccine.

Djokovic said he hoped vaccination requirements in certain tournaments would change, adding that he was hoping that he "can play for many more years".

But he also confirmed he was willing to forego the chance to become statistically the greatest male tennis player of all time because he felt so strongly. Djokovic's rival, Rafael Nadal, has won 21 Grand Slam titles - the most of any competitor.

Asked why, he replied: "Because the principles of decision making on my body are more important than any title or anything else. I'm trying to be in tune with my body as much as I possibly can."

Djokovic said he had "always been a great student of wellness, wellbeing, health, nutrition," and that his decision had been partly influenced by the positive impact that factors such as changing his diet and his sleeping patterns, had had on his abilities as an athlete.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-60354068

this guy has strong feelings for this covid jab. so do I.

Rest abeg
Too much noise

Righteousness2:
I Love the courage of Novak.
I will Sacrifice all including my life not to take that thing. Never Ever.

There have being data that this covid-19 vaccines end up complicating ones health ,why are they still forcing people to take it ?

https://www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus-covid-19/vaccine-side-effects

Novak Djokovic has said he would rather miss out on future tennis trophies than be forced to get a Covid vaccine.

His body, his choice ...

Neimar:
Rest abeg
Too much noise

can't you read that it was a journalist that asked him the question which he answered? You are talking as if he is the one that went out on his own to start talking about it. Even if he talks about it on his own, he is right. The behaviour of all these governments to force vaccines on people is nothing but dictatorship. Why should everybody be forced to take that vaccine when the vaccine is neither a prevention or a cure for covid? People that are vaccinated still contact it, people that are vaccinated still die from it so what's all this rubbish about making everyone take it by force?

Mintum:

can't you read that it was a journalist that asked him the question which he answered? You are talking as if he is the one that went out on his own to start talking about it. Even if he talks about it on his own, he is right. The behaviour of all these governments to force vaccines on people is nothing but dictatorship. Why should everybody be forced to take that vaccine when the vaccine is neither a prevention or a cure for covid? People that are vaccinated still contact it, people that are vaccinated still die from it so what's all this rubbish about making everyone take it by force?

No one should be forced to take that vaccine against his will. Why should Vaccinated people feel threatened by the Unvaccinated?

Very courageous guy

Way to go Novak. Let us all collectively fight back. Just like they tried to make a man go to jail for kicking a cat. Let us show these "woke" folks that their mob tactics no longer work. The Canadian truckers are doing it. You may scoff that they are just unlettered drivers, but the fact still remains you can't bully everyone into submission to put something in their bodies they are not sure of.

Damnnn niggar
Isoright

Took that vaccine last month just to have the feeling

That shit is damnnn crazy

It makes you feel sick
Headache

Are You Rituaist?

Nobody cares.

There are more prodigies coming up.

I support you, why force someone that is well and healthy to take a jab?

This man serious o

WibusJaga:
No one should be forced to take that vaccine against his will. Why should the Vaccinated people feel threatened by the Unvaccinated?

As long as there is a public emergency which concerns the general public it is not about you but about everybody and so you don't get to have a choice that will put others at risk

Richman talking, he has already made his money so it is easy to sacrifice

Covid-19 is real but no-one should be forced to take the jab.

No one should be forced against his will.

I’m against Vaccination also.

Me too, I fear that Jab to bone marrow

mediainc:
I support you, why force someone that is well and healthy to take a jab?

Because we have immunocompromised people among us who may be affected because of our unwillingness to take precautions it is not always about you but about the interest and well being of your next-door neighbour because our rights are all collective

A real man. Now despite the whole noise about covid-19. Is the world jot getting maskless now? Are we not back to normal?

He's right sha....

Why forcing vaccines in people...

It is not compulsory, simple

The experimental jab has been proven to be a scam by Pfizer to make so much money, it neither protects nor cure Covid, they keep saying it "reduces" hospitalization. Nonsense

Mintum:

can't you read that it was a journalist that asked him the question which he answered? You are talking as if he is the one that went out on his own to start talking about it. Even if he talks about it on his own, he is right. The behaviour of all these governments to force vaccines on people is nothing but dictatorship. Why should everybody be forced to take that vaccine when the vaccine is neither a prevention or a cure for covid? People that are vaccinated still contact it, people that are vaccinated still die from it so what's all this rubbish about making everyone take it by force?

Because it is a public health emergency and rights are always collective.

It isn't about you but the interest and well being of others the government must protect public safety and an ongoing pandemic is tantamount to public safety if enforcing vaccine mandates is a way of ridding ourselves of the pandemic then under emergency powers many democratic governments are well within their rights to enforce.