Australia has revoked tennis star Novak Djokovic's visa just days after they re-allowed it.
The world no. 1 has been at the center of a row over his right to remain in the country while unvaccinated, despite its requirement that all travelers without an exemption be double-vaxxed.
Immigration Minister Alex Hawke announced today that he is revoking the Serbian player's visa after it was reinstated earlier this week, BBC News reports.
"Today I exercised my power... to cancel the visa held by Mr Novak Djokovic on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so," he said in a statement.
He added that "Australians have made many sacrifices during this pandemic, and they rightly expect the result of those sacrifices to be protected."
The decision means that Djokovic - who was preparing to defend his title in the fast-approaching Australian Open - faces deportation and a three-year visa ban.
But the star isn't giving up yet; his lawyers made a late-night appearance before a federal judge seeking an injunction to prevent him from being deported or taken into detention, MailOnline reports.
They also plan to file a formal application for him to stay in the country as soon as possible, in a legal row that likely won't be resolved until the Australian Open starts on Monday morning.
The nine-time Australian Open winner's ability to compete in the tournament has been in limbo since January 6, when he was refused entry to Australia by border officials in Melbourne.
Despite being unvaccinated, Djokovic believed that he would be allowed entry to the country because he had proof of a recent infection, having tested positive for Coronavirus in December.
After spending the weekend in an infamous immigration detention center, the 34-year-old's visa was reinstated by a judge on Monday who agreed that his proof of recent infection satisfied the conditions of a medical exemption.
However, Immigration Minister Hawke has stepped in and once again revoked Djokovic's right to remain under separate powers in the Australian Migration Act, which allows him to deport anyone he deems a risk to "the health, safety or good order of the Australian community."
The player faces a nervous wait as his lawyers make a last-ditch appeal to the federal court and file an official application for his visa to be reinstated.
If all goes to plan, they expect a hearing to be scheduled for Sunday - just hours before the Open commences.
In the meantime, Djokovic will be allowed to stay in his current accommodation until Saturday morning, when he must meet immigration officials in Melbourne.