The Russian Sputnik vaccine is not acceptable in Australia and many tennis players are at risk?

Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

The trip to Australia can become very complicated even for many tennis players who have completed a course of vaccination. In fact, the “down under” authorities did not include the Sputnik vaccine in the list of those approved for landing in Australia, and therefore can participate in international sports competitions.

To confirm all the Russian tennis player Natalia Viklyantseva, included in the list of the top 200 of the WTA, who made it clear on her social networks that she will not be able to compete in the Australian Open 2022 because the Russian Sputnik vaccine is not accepted in Australia. The Russian vaccine has been given in countless countries, but has not been recognized by the World Health Organization or the European Medicines Agency, so this is not surprising news at all. Besides Russia, there are many other countries such as Serbia, Hungary, Belarus, Bulgaria, the Baltic states, etc., which have provided large amounts of Sputnik to their citizens, so it is very likely that some tennis players from those countries have been vaccinated with that vaccine, and therefore they now risk not being able to Compete in the Australian Open.

Australia is allowing entry to travelers who took Sputnik but then received a booster dose with one of the recognized vaccines, such as Pfizer or Moderna.