Novak Djokovic, wife hold 80% stake in company working on COVID-19 treatment
Novak Djokovic holds an 80% stake in a biotech agency that’s creating a COVID-19 treatment, QuantBioRes CEO Ivan Loncarevic mentioned to Reuters.
Djokovic made the acquisition in June 2020, however Loncarevic didn’t reveal how a lot he invested. Per the outlet, Djokovic holds 40.8% whereas his wife, Jelena, owns 39.2% of the company. Loncarevic harassed to Reuters that QuantBioRes is working on creating a treatment, not a vaccine, for COVID-19.
The 20-time main singles champion made international headlines just lately after his COVID-19 controversy and visa battle forward of the Australian Open, which resulted in his deportation. The Australian authorities had revoked his visa from the nation for the second time simply days earlier than three federal court docket judges unanimously dismissed Djokovic’s software to overturn the immigration minister’s choice.
Immigration Minister Alex Hawke mentioned Friday that he utilized his discretion to cancel Djokovic’s visa on public curiosity grounds. Per court docket filings and CNN, he cited a part of the explanation for canceling the visa was as a result of the 35-year-old’s presence could result in “enhance in anti-vaccination sentiment” and even “civil unrest.”
“Particularly, his conduct could encourage or affect others to emulate his prior conduct and fail to adjust to applicable public well being measures following a constructive COVID-19 take a look at outcome, which itself may result in the transmission of the illness and critical danger to their well being and others,” Hawke argued, per CNN.
Mark Baker/AP Picture
The 20-time Grand Slam champion traveled to Australia after Victoria state authorities granted him a medical exemption to the nation’s strict vaccination necessities. Per his lawyer, it was granted as a result of the tennis star examined constructive for COVID-19 final month. Nonetheless, upon arrival nearly two weeks in the past, Australian Border Drive rejected his exemption as invalid and barred him from coming into the nation.
Regardless of Djokovic’s controversy, the ATP launched a press release, saying “97 % of the Prime 100 gamers are vaccinated main into this yr’s Australian Open.” Sources advised SI’s Jon Wertheim this week the quantity was beforehand at simply 48% as of Oct. 8, 2021.
The Well being Division beforehand suggested, per the AP, that the tennis star was a “low” danger of transmitting COVID-19 and a “very low” danger of transmitting it on the Open.
As Djokovic misses the primary main championship of the yr, he may additionally miss the yr’s second main, the French Open, on account of a brand new vaccination legislation in France.
Extra Tennis Protection:
