Beijing – The women’s tennis organisation WTA continues to express concern for the 36-year-old after a monitored interview of Peng Shuai during the Olympics and is again calling for an investigation into the case.
The Chinese tennis player had met IOC President Thomas Bach at the Beijing Winter Games and again denied sexual assault by a top Chinese politician in the interview with “L’Équipe”.
“It is always good to see Peng Shuai, whether it is in an interview or visiting the Olympic Games. However, her recent interview does not alleviate any of our concerns about her original post on 2 November,” WTA chief executive Steve Simon said in a statement. He said Peng Shuai had taken a bold step by making her allegations. “We have called for a formal investigation into her allegations by the appropriate authorities and an opportunity for the WTA to meet with Peng in confidence to discuss her situation.” German women’s national coach Barbara Rittner responded via Twitter, “Proud of our WTA. “
Concerns for Peng Shuai’s well-being
The case has moved the world since 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 Shuai’s well-being. She 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 an “enormous misunderstanding”.
The new interview also seemed staged. The French newspaper itself pointed out the conditions that had to be fulfilled by the Chinese National Olympic Committee (COC): Peng would speak in Chinese, the questions had to be submitted in advance, the interview was to be published without further comment. In addition, a representative of the COC sat in the room during the interview to translate questions and answers.
