Former world No.1 doubles player Peng Shuai has said she ‘would like her privacy respected’ during a video call with the International Olympic Committee on Sunday.
There are mounting concerns over the welfare of the tennis star after she made allegations that she was sexually assaulted by the former vice-premier of China in a social media post published on November 2nd. The post was shortly removed and the whereabouts of Shuai has been unclear. In recent days Chinese state media has posted a series of videos and photos of Shuai but there are questions over its authenticity with some fearing she is being held under control by authorities.
IOC President Thomas Bach is the first top official to have direct communication with Shuai since her allegations emerged. In a statement issued, Bach said he attended a 30-minute video call with the two-time Grand Slam champion, as well as the Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, Emma Terho, and IOC Member in China Li Lingwei. Shuai was quoted as saying that she is ‘safe and well’ in Beijing.
“I was relieved to see that Peng Shuai was doing fine, which was our main concern. She appeared to be relaxed. I offered her our support and to stay in touch at any time of her convenience, which she obviously appreciated,” Terho commented on the situation.
Included in the IOC statement is a photo of Shuai seen smiling towards the camera. In the background, she is surrounded by teddy bears, which is similar to photos that was published by state media earlier in the week. Bach said he even invited Shuai to attend dinner with him when he visits the country in January ahead of the 2022 winter Olympics which she has accepted.
Whilst the news of Shuai’s current situation is an encouraging sign, concerns remain. In no part of the IOC press release did they mention Shuai’s allegations of sexual assault. The governing body has previously been accused of not addressing the issue compared to the WTA who have threatened to stop doing business with China if they can’t guarantee Shuai’s safety.
Kerry Allen, who is a Chinese Media Analyst for the BBC, has said there continues to be restrictions placed on Shuai’s Weibo account which was used to publish the statement 19 days ago. It is understood that users are still not able to comment or share any of her posts. Furthermore, Allen said that on Weibo there hasn’t been a single social media post mentioning Shuai’s name since September 10th.
As for the WTA, they are demanding greater clarity concerning Shuai and if she is allowed to act freely. Steve Simon, who is the WTA’s CEO, said he was unconvinced by a recent video of Shuai posted by a Chinese journalist who works for the state-controlled media.
“While it is positive to see her, it remains unclear if she is free and able to make decisions and take actions on her own, without coercion or external interference,” Simon said in a statement.
“This video alone is insufficient. As I have stated from the beginning, I remain concerned about Peng Shuai’s health and safety and that the allegation of sexual assault is being censored and swept under the rug. I have been clear about what needs to happen and our relationship with China is at a crossroads.”
The WTA is yet to comment on Shuai’s video meeting with the IOC.
