Australian Tennis Player Caught Up In Fake Vaccine Passport Scandal

An Australian tennis player denies being involved in a fake Covid-19 vaccination passport scandal sweeping across Europe.

Alex de Minaur, who is a fan favourite Down Under, had his name published by Spanish media outlets as someone who had allegedly purchased a forged certificate from a syndicate in order to compete overseas.

The 23-year-old strongly denies the allegations.

"I received my first dose of the vaccine in London last summer, and the second one at the Hospital La Paz in Madrid," De Minaur wrote in a statement on social media.

"News came out today that the hospital is under investigation for providing falsified COVID certificates to some of its patients.

"I want to make it 100 per cent clear that I received my second shot, that I have a completely valid, accurate and true vaccination record.

"I am not 'under investigation' in any way as is being suggested and my name is connected to this story simply because I was a patient at the hospital (as many thousands of others were)."

It's a pretty serious crime with Spanish police already arresting 11 people over the illegal activity after around 600 passports were reportedly sold to unvaccinated people.

A number of high-profile figures, including actors, musicians and athletes have been linked to the unfolding situation.

But if de Minaur's previous comments are anything to go by, then you can probably tell that he's pro-vaccination and wouldn't need to falsify documents.

When the Novak Djokovic exemption saga was unfolding ahead of the Australian Open, de Minaur and fellow compatriot James Duckworth were asked of their thoughts during a press conference.

"Apparently it's an independent panel, he must have fit the criteria somehow, so yeah, if he's fit the criteria then he should be able to come," Duckworth said.

De Minaur responded with a laugh: "That's very politically correct of you."

He added: "As James has very wisely put out there, saying all the right things there, I just think it's just very interesting. That's all I'm going to say. But hey, it is what it is. I just hope that the other players that I heard have [vaccine exemption] cases as well, they got exemptions, so I hope they will all fit the criteria."