According to Richard Colbeck, Australia’s Sports Minister Richard Colbeck, Kelly Slater is banned from surfing if he does not get the Covid jab.
While the 49-year-old world surfing champ has yet to disclose his status, he made online waves railing against vaccination mandates, and posting antivax rhetoric on his social media accounts during the pandemic.
Colbeck predicted that America will be facing a wiping out similar to the world’s No. Novak Djokovic was the No.1 tennis player in the country, and was subsequently expelled by Colbeck if he failed to prove that he has been vaccinated.
If Kelly Slater refuses the Covid jab, surfing icon and Kelly Slater will be prohibited from competing in Australia
“I think he understands the rules. These rules apply to everyone, no matter if you are a surfer or a player of tennis, tourist, or not. The rules apply to all,’ the Sports Minister explained to the Sydney Morning Herald.
“I do not like his chances competing in Victoria and I would hate to imagine what it might be for him competing in Western Australia.”
Australian officials are taking tough measures against unvaccinated athletes from overseas who want to participate in Down Under’s sporting events. This is despite a rising number of Covid cases as well as supply chain chaos.
If they don’t have the jab, all non-citizens will be prohibited from traveling to Australia. In rare circumstances exceptions might be allowed.
Slater’s skeptical stand on life-saving vaccinations was a source of concern during the pandemic.
Pictured with Kalani Miller, the 49-year-old world surfing champion is still not vaccinated. But he has been vocal against vaccination mandates and shared anti-vax messages to social media.
Senator Richard Colbeck stated that the American will be in a similar position to world number one. Novak Djokovic is the No.1 tennis player in the world. However, the American Senator Richard Colbeck said that the situation will be similar to the one faced by the world No.
He said that he knew the risks and could make a decision based on statistics and information and his own abilities (health) about Covid.
People who claim to listen to their doctors will be surprised that I have more knowledge about the health of people than 99.99 percent. However, they should not trust me. Most of the Covid information I have comes from doctors, some of whom disagree with official science.
He claimed that some of his friends had ‘literally’ died as a result of the vaccine, adding that the vaccine also made his mother’s quality life worse.
Slater faced a lot of backlash after he claimed that Covid was a “disease for obese, healthy, and old people” and said the virus exposes the underlying unhealthy patterns and problems in the human body.
Doctors have rejected the statements of the surf legend.
Gabriel Medina, the current champion of Australian World Surf League events, is another possible exclusion.
Slater’s skeptical stand on vital vaccines was ridiculed during the pandemic
With his status as a vaccinee still uncertain, the 28-year old Brazilian could also be unable to attend Bells Beach or Margaret River Pro in April.
Although he had declined to have the Covid jab prior to the Tokyo Olympics, he later stated that a vaccination was in his plans.
Andrew Stark is the WSL Asia-Pacific general manger. He said that there’s no requirement for surfers getting vaccinated, but the league would’strictly comply with the government entry guidelines for each country we visit for events’.
He stated that he encouraged everyone to become vaccinated. However, he warned everyone involved with WSL about the potential dangers of unvaccinated travelers traveling around the globe and could be banned from certain countries.