Expressing concern for the health and safety of tennis star Peng Shuai, the Women’s Tennis Association announced Wednesday that it is suspending all of its tournaments in China. Peng has been…
Unfortunately, the leadership in China has not addressed this very serious issue in any credible way. While we now know where Peng is, I have serious doubts that she is free, safe and not subject to censorship, coercion and intimidation. The WTA has been clear on what is needed here, and we repeat our call for a full and transparent investigation – without censorship – into Peng Shuai’s sexual assault accusation.
None of this is acceptable nor can it become acceptable. If powerful people can suppress the voices of women and sweep allegations of sexual assault under the rug, then the basis on which the WTA was founded – equality for women – would suffer an immense setback. I will not and cannot let that happen to the WTA and its players.
As a result, and 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. 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.
Peng posted in early November to the Chinese social media site Weibo. In the post, she accused a much older, high-ranking government official of sexually assaulting her. The Chinese government responded by erasing her post and censored all other mentions of it. Peng subsequently disappeared, with no one seeing or hearing from her.
Several videos of Peng in a casual setting with friends and her coach surfaced Nov. 20. Another video appeared to show her being introduced at the opening ceremony of a youth tennis tournament. And the International Olympic Committee reported on a video call with Peng, but that also provoked concerns that she was being coerced. No transcripts or video from that session were released.
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