Beijing – Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai met IOC President Thomas Bach during the Winter Olympics in Beijing and denied again in an interview that she had been sexually assaulted by a top Chinese politician.
She had dinner with the head of the International Olympic Committee on Saturday, the 36-year-old told French sports daily “L’Équipe” in an interview.
The IOC confirmed the meeting between Bach, former athlete spokesperson Kirsty Coventry and Peng Shuai, during which “the three of them discussed their shared experiences as athletes at the Olympic Games”. Confidentiality had been agreed between the three parties about further contents of the conversation.
Peng Shuai denies sexual assault
“We discussed a lot and had a pleasant exchange,” Peng said. Her case has been stirring the world for several months after the former world number one in doubles posted allegations of sexual assault by a top Chinese politician on the Weibo social network in November.
The post was deleted soon after. Since then, athletes, politicians and human rights activists have expressed concern for Peng’s well-being. Peng Shuai later denied having made the allegations. However, her statements seemed contrived. She now told L’Équipe: “I never said that anyone sexually harassed me in any way.” Again, she spoke of a “huge misunderstanding. “
Peng Shuai on post: “I deleted it “
She had also never disappeared, “everyone could see me”, Peng said. She deleted the post on Weibo herself, she said. Asked why the post had disappeared, she replied, “I deleted it.” Asked why she deleted it, the 36-year-old said, “Why? Because I wanted to.” The mails she sent to the players’ organisation WTA were also written by her, she said in the interview.
Peng had made similar comments at the end of the year. In a video interview with the Singapore-based Chinese newspaper Lianhe Zaobao, she denied having made allegations of sexual assault. “I have to emphasise a point that is extremely important: I have never said or written that anyone sexually assaulted me. I must state that emphatically,” she said.
Because signals from China had previously not been enough for her, the women’s tour WTA had suspended all tournaments in China and Hong Kong in early December, despite China being a major donor.
According to the IOC release, Peng announced a visit to the IOC headquarters in Lausanne. She plans to travel to Europe when the Corona pandemic makes it possible again, the statement said. Coventry and Peng Shuai had agreed to stay in touch, it said.
Peng Shuai talks career end
The former world number one in doubles does not expect to return to the tennis tour. In view of her age, her numerous operations and the coronavirus pandemic, it is very difficult to imagine her reaching her usual level again. She had also stopped training recently, but would “always remain a professional tennis player at heart”, said Peng.