WTA Tour chairman Steve Simon said Wednesday the women's tennis circuit is suspending all tournaments in China over concerns about the safety of Chinese player Peng Shuai.
The WTA had planned 11 events in China this year before Covid-19 forced them to be relocated or cancelled.
"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," Simon said. Peng's claims against Zhang were the first time China's #MeToo movement has touched the highest echelons of the ruling Communist Party.
"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.The loss of events in China would be a blow to the WTA, but Simon said, "China's leaders have left the WTA with no choice.
"I have been gratified by the massive amount of international support the WTA has received for its position on this matter," Simon said.
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