Tennis

Chinese tennis star Peng missing after sexual abuse claims; associations call for investigation

Reuters

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Chinese tennis star Peng missing after sexual abuse claims; associations call for investigation

#METOO. Peng Shuai is the latest Chinese star to come out with sexual assault claims.

Adnan Abidi/REUTERS/File photo

WTA CEO Steve Simon receives assurances from the Chinese Tennis Association that she was safe 'and not under any physical threat'

Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai has not been seen since publicly accusing former vice premier Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault in a post, prompting the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) to call for an investigation.

Concerns among the global tennis community have grown as Peng, the first Chinese player to top the world rankings when she was doubles No. 1 in 2014, has not been seen since the post.

In a statement on Sunday, WTA chairman and CEO Steve Simon said that the recent events were of deep concern.

“Peng Shuai, and all women, deserve to be heard, not censored. Her accusation about the conduct of a former Chinese leader involving a sexual assault must be treated with the utmost seriousness,” he said.

Men’s world No. 1 Novak Djokovic said he was shocked by the incident.

“I did hear about it a week ago. Honestly, it’s shocking that she’s missing, more so that it’s someone that I have seen on the tour in the previous years quite a few times,” the Serb said after his win over Casper Ruud at the ATP Finals on Monday, November 15.

“It’s not much more to say than hope that she will be found, that she’s okay. It’s terrible…, I can imagine just how her family feels that she’s missing.”

China’s State Council Information office and the Chinese Tennis Association did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the WTA’s statement.

The International Tennis Federation also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Simon told the New York Times on Sunday that no one at the Tour has talked directly to Peng but that he had received assurances from the Chinese Tennis Association that she was safe “and not under any physical threat.”

The governing body of men’s tennis (ATP) on Monday backed the WTA’s call for China to investigate allegations of sexual assault made by Peng against Gaoli.

The WTA had called on China to investigate Peng’s claims on Sunday, while also demanding an end to censorship of the former top-ranked doubles player.

Peng, one of China’s biggest sporting stars, alleged on her Weibo social media account on November 2 that Gaoli, who used to be a member of the Politburo Standing Committee – China’s top decision-making body – coerced her into sex and they later had an on-off consensual relationship.

Peng, 35, said in the post, which was deleted about half an hour after it was published, that she could provide no evidence to back her allegations.

“There is nothing more important to us than the safety of our tennis community,” ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said in a statement on Monday.

“We have been deeply concerned by the uncertainty surrounding the immediate safety and whereabouts of WTA player Peng Shuai.

“We are encouraged by the recent assurances received by WTA that she is safe and accounted for and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

“Separately, we stand in full support of WTA’s call for a full, fair and transparent investigation into allegations of sexual assault against Peng Shuai.”

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) also backed the WTA’s call for an investigation while commending Peng for her courage.

“We call on responsible authorities in China to investigate the matter fully and to adjudicate it fairly,” said the USTA.

“We at the USTA commend Peng Shuai for speaking out and recognise her courage for doing so.”

The internet in China is heavily censored and the private lives of top leaders are an especially sensitive subject. Zhang, now 75, was a vice premier between 2013 and 2018 and served on the Politburo Standing Committee between 2012 and 2017. – Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!