|
Peng, one of China's biggest sport stars, said on social media
this month that former Chinese vice premier Zhang Gaoli coerced
her into sex and that they later had an on-off consensual
relationship.
Her post was deleted about half an hour later and she had not
since then been seen in public or made a statement, alarming the
global tennis community.
On Twitter on Wednesday, Chinese state media outlet CGTN
released what it said was an email Peng had sent to WTA Chairman
Steve Simon, who is also its CEO, in which she said the
allegation of assault was untrue. Twitter is blocked in China.
"The statement released today by Chinese state media concerning
Peng Shuai only raises my concerns as to her safety and
whereabouts," Simon said in a written statement.
"I have a hard time believing that Peng Shuai actually wrote the
email we received or believes what is being attributed to her."
Beijing has yet to comment on Peng's initial allegation and
discussion of the topic has been blocked on China's heavily
censored internet.
The statement comes as China prepares to host the Winter
Olympics in Beijing in February amid calls from global rights
groups and others for a boycott over its human rights record.
"My answer is very simple. This is not a foreign affairs matter,
and I am not aware of the situation you mentioned," foreign
ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Thursday when asked about
Peng's whereabouts and whether China is concerned her case would
affect its image ahead of the Olympics.
The Chinese Tennis Association did not immediately respond to a
request for comment.
The email which CGTN attributes to Peng says: "I'm not missing,
nor am I unsafe. I've just been resting at home and everything
is fine."
Besides CGTN, the English-language arm of state broadcaster CCTV,
no other Chinese media outlet as of Thursday morning in Asia had
reported the letter.
A representative for Peng did not immediately respond to a
request for comment.
The Florida-based WTA and its men's counterpart, the
London-based Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP),
previously called on China to investigate Peng's allegations.
Current and former players, from multi-major winners Naomi Osaka
and Novak Djokovic to Billie Jean King, have expressed support
and concern for Peng, with many top women's players taking to
social media with the hashtag #WhereIsPengShuai.
"The WTA and the rest of the world need independent and
verifiable proof that she is safe," Simon wrote. "I have
repeatedly tried to reach her via numerous forms of
communications, to no avail."
Peng, 35, was the first Chinese player to top the world rankings
when she was doubles number one in 2014. She won doubles titles
at Wimbledon in 2013 and the French Open in 2014.
Zhang, now 75, was a vice premier between 2013 and 2018 and
served on the Politburo Standing Committee between 2012 and
2017.
"I hope @WTA continues to show what we stand for as players,"
Jessica Pegula, a top-20 American player, said on Twitter. "We
are extremely lucky to be able to do what we do but I hope more
people, not just tennis players, shed some light on this deeply
concerning situation."
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Additional reporting by
Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; Editing by Michael Perry, Robert
Birsel and Nick Macfie)
[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
|
