Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Tuesday criticized President Joe Biden for a rule that prevents tennis superstar Novak Djokovic from participating in the upcoming Miami Open tournament without a COVID-19 vaccination.
According to the current requirements, Serbs are not allowed to enter the country without inoculation.
Guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that non-US citizens and non-US immigrants must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination before flying into the country, with limited exceptions.
The rules will expire in May, when the declaration of the COVID-19 emergency ends.
The Department of Homeland Security has reportedly denied a waiver request from Djokovic to participate in two US tennis tournaments this month: the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, and the Miami Open.
At letter for Biden, DeSantis said Djokovic’s presence will benefit both the Florida tournament, which starts on March 19, and the tennis community more.
“The only thing preventing Mr. Djokovic from participating in this tournament is that your administration continues to impose incorrect, unscientific, and outdated COVID-19 vaccination requirements for foreign guests who wish to visit our great country,” the governor wrote.
DeSantis, a likely 2024 GOP presidential candidate who once praised the COVID-19 vaccine, has since become skeptical, even calling for prosecution of people promoting life-saving shots.
In January, he proposed banning COVID-19 vaccinations and mandating masks in his country.
The governor said Djokovic’s presence at the Miami tournament would not pose a public health risk.
“It’s time to put pandemic politics aside and give the American people what they want — let them play,” DeSantis wrote.
They also asked Biden to confirm on Friday that the tennis player can travel to Florida by boat, arguing that the rules on the vaccination of COVID-19 for non-US citizens do not explicitly cover this method of transportation.
This is not the first time Djokovic has made headlines for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
The world No.1 player was deported from Australia early last year after he lost a court case to allow him to stay at the Australian Open despite failing to meet the country’s vaccination requirements.