"Even if he showers in a camper, eats and sleeps in improvised situations, the message is wrong" - Italian Olympic Committee head on allowing unvaccinated Novak Djokovic to play in Rome

Valentina Vezzali, the Italian cabinet undersecretary for sports, had hinted last week that the country might allow Novak Djokovic, who is not vaccinated against COVID-19, to play at the Rome Masters. According to Vezzali, since tennis is an outdoor sport, it might not require athletes to be vaccinated come May.

Vezzali's comments came at a time when unvaccinated individuals in Italy are still prohibited from entering hotels and restaurants under the Covid-19 rules. The comments have generated a furore on social media, while also drawing strong reactions from fellow government officials.

Italian Olympic Committee president Giovanni Malago has now joined the growing chorus against allowing the World No. 1 to be allowed to play. Malago said allowing the 20 time Grand Slam champion to participate in the ATP 1000 event sends out the wrong message and "absolutely wouldn’t be right".

“It absolutely wouldn’t be right,” Malago said. “Even if [he] showers in a camper and eat and sleep in improvised situations, the message is totally wrong."

Djokovic with the 2020 Internazionali BNL D'Italia champion's trophy.

Malago further revealed that he receives "a dozen emails" every day from furious parents asking for the rationale behind allowing the Serbian to play at the event when their children aren't allowed to participate in any sport.

"I get dozens of emails every day from mums and dads who are furious because their children don’t have the green pass and cannot do sport," he continued. “Explain to me why a champion who is in the same situation can.”

Notably, Italy's undersecretary for health, Andrea Costa, had also expressed her concerns about allowing the World No. 1 to play at the Rome Masters. Costa appealed to the Serb to "set a good example" to his large following.

Novak Djokovic edges closer to the 2022 Dubai Tennis Championships crown

Djokovic at the 2022 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, inched closer to marking a successful return to the tour at the 2022 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

Playing in his first tournament of the season, the World No. 1 has posted comprehensive wins over Lorenzo Musetti and Karen Khachanov. He now finds himself just a few wins away from securing the crown in Dubai.

The 34-year-old Serb will be up against Czech Republic's Jiri Vesely in the quarterfinals.