Peng Shuai, the 35-year-old Chinese tennis player, has been missing from the public eye since coming out with a statement that she was sexually assaulted by a member of China’s ruling Communist Party.
With the knowledge that Chinese officials took down her post and blocked the word ‘tennis’ from online search bars, the world started to show great concern for the tennis player as she wasn’t heard from for weeks.
The UN demanded proof that she was safe and will be pushing an investigation into these sexual assault allegations. Many countries have threatened to boycott the winter 2022 Olympic Games being held in Bejing until China provides proof of her safety.
In response, a video was released of Peng Shuai talking with an International Olympic Committee member assuring the public that she is safe and well. There have also been videos released of her at family sporting events. However, many people are saying this is still not enough evidence.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said it has held a second video call yesterday, before the Women’s Tennis Association announcement. The IOC have said they will have an in-person meeting in January, which would be a head of the Winter Olympics in February.
WTA Chairman, Steve Simon, made the announcement that all tournaments in China would be suspended. “With the full support of the WTA Board of Directors, I am announcing the immediate suspension of all WTA tournaments in China, including Hong Kong,” said the WTA chairman, in a statement on Wednesday.
“In good conscience, I don’t see how I can ask our athletes to compete there when Peng Shuai is not allowed to communicate freely and has seemingly been pressured to contradict her allegation of sexual assault. Given the current state of affairs, I am also greatly concerned about the risks that all of our players and staff could face if we were to hold events in China in 2022.”
With China’s history of disappearances of businesspeople and activists, this situation calls for concern.
A complete English translation of Peng Shuai’s deleted post. We owe it to her to read her full story in her own words #WhereIsPengShuai pic.twitter.com/yGNkd07j6a
— delusional raducanu stan (@RaducanuIN) November 16, 2021