The positive COVID-19 test of cricketer Will Sutherland on Friday did more than delay the Sheffield Shield match between NSW and Victoria.
It exposed a threat to the integrity of sporting competitions that is set to be repeated over the coming months as Australia learns to live with COVID-19.
When Sutherland’s initial test raised concerns of a possible case, the cricket authorities did the sensible thing and made the Victorian team isolate while more tests were carried out.
A day later,
In the NRL, there are fears that as many as 15 players won’t be vaccinated in time for next season and these individuals are set to have a major say in how the competition shakes out.
The Melbourne Storm’s forward linchpin Nelson Asofa-Solomona is reportedly unvaccinated and may not be able to train or play in Victoria, meaning he will almost certainly either be forced to change clubs or be out of a job.
And Queensland’s requirement for those using its public stadiums to have jabs means perhaps the game’s best forward, Jason Taumalolo — another reportedly refusing a vaccination — would miss at least half of North Queensland’s matches. That’s if the club decides to keep him.
Decisions of Australian health officials are not only influencing domestic sporting outcomes either.
The ultimate champion in the greatest era of men’s tennis may be decided by Victoria’s vaccination policy requiring travellers to be fully vaccinated.
Novak Djokovic — chasing a men’s record 21st major singles title, which would be one more than both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal — is yet to indicate whether he will travel to Melbourne Park, as radio silence continues between him and Australian Open organisers.
“I haven’t been talking to them to be honest,” Djokovic said over the weekend.
“I was just waiting to hear what the news was going to be and, now that I know, we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Do you know more? Contact Jack Snape by email at jack.snape@abc.net.au or confidentially via the Signal messaging app: 61439695398.
Source: AFL NEWS ABC
