The WTA hasn’t responded to an email allegedly sent by Peng Shuai saying that she doesn’t want to be disturbed, according to a senior executive of Global D-Sports.
Ding Li has posted what he claims is a screenshot of Shuai’s email which was sent to the WTA on Twitter. In the tweet he tagged in multiple tennis governing bodies, as well as two accounts belonging to the International Olympic Committee. Little is known about Li but he claims to be a ‘long-time friend’ of the tennis star. The company he works for operates the Tianyancha app which organizes sport events and manages athletes. On November 20th he posted a video of Shuai in a restaurant which he also attended in Beijing.
There has been concern about Shuai‘s safely since a post appeared on her Weibo account accusing a former Chinese official, Zhang Gaoli, of sexual abuse. The post was deleted shortly after and there were fears Shuai had disappeared. She has since been shown in photos and videos uploaded by Chinese media which is overseen by the country’s government. The International Olympic Committee also held a video call with her on Sunday but the WTA said they still have their concerns. The IOC press release made no reference about the sexual allegations which was made.
According to Ding, Shuai’s purported email asked the WTA not to ‘hype up’ her personal affairs. This is the second time a copy of an email said to be written by Shuai has been leaked online. The first was published by CGTN which is the international branch of China’s state-run broadcaster CCTV.
“At the moment I do not want to be disturbed, and especially [can you] not hype up my personal affairs. I hope to live quietly. Thank you again for your concern.” A translation of the latest email reads.
The BBC contacted Ding following his latest post on Twitter. During an interview, he accused WTA boss Steve Simon of ‘bothering’ Shuai and claimed he gave her contact details to multiple tennis players, as well as media outlets. According to Ding this is ‘a very big factor’ as to why Shuai hasn’t spoken to Simon.
Interestingly Ding’s accusations came a couple hours after IOC member Dick Pound made similar comments during an interview with CNN. Pound warned that threatening China with Economic sanctions will not work and the recent IOC video call found no evidence that Shuai was being censored by the authorities. Although he later admitted to CNN that he hasn’t seen the video himself.
“The ATP (he was meant to say WTA) has its own views. I don’t think they have been paying much attention to what has been happening in Basketball and football in threatening (the) Chinese with economic sanctions It’s not going to work and part of the proof of the pudding was that they were not able to get in touch with her (Shuai) and that’s her sport. Maybe she didn’t like the attitude they were showing?.” Pound commented.
Ding was asked by the BBC if they could speak with Shuai in order to verify his claims but he replied ‘“she only wishes to have a good rest alone in her own home.” Although he says there is “absolutely no supervision nor pressure, and there was definitely no punishment”.
However, when it comes to the allegations of sexual assault Ding says there is no investigation into Gaoli as her alleged emails ‘showed there was no signs of sexual assault.’ Even though it was clearly stated in her Weibo post. China has censored Shuai’s allegations and it has not been reported by any of the country’s newspapers which operate under government rule.
The WTA has threatened to pull their tournaments in China if their concerns about Shuai aren’t resolved.
