Peng Appears Again?

IOC Holds Second Video Call With Chinese Tennis Star Peng Shuai: ‘Appeared To Be Safe And Well’ | The Daily Wire

“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,” said Emma Terho, Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission.

While the video call seemed to be enough at the time for the IOC, many other organizations have called for more evidence, including the European Union.

“The EU joins growing international demands, including by sport professionals, for assurances that she is free and not under threat,” the EU said in a November statement. “In this spirit, the EU requests the Chinese government to provide verifiable proof of Peng Shuai’s safety, well-being and whereabouts. The EU urges the Chinese authorities to conduct a full, fair and transparent investigation into her allegations of sexual assault.”

Remember, there’s a reason for her disappearance.

Peng’s safety has been a concern since her November 2 social media post in which she accused former Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of sexually assaulting her three years ago following a round of tennis. She also said Zhang’s wife guarded the door. Her post was deleted nearly 30 minutes after publication and Peng’s account on Weibo — a Chinese social media platform — was blocked from searchers on the platform.

Until she’s back out on tour, I don’t think anyone will believe China on this.

The WTA Has Balls (Yes, I Went There)

Women’s Tennis Association Suspends All Tournaments In China Over Peng Shuai Concerns | The Daily Wire

“Unfortunately, the leadership in China has not addressed this very serious issue in any credible way,” Simon wrote in a statement to the WTA website on Wednesday. “While we now know where Peng is, I have serious doubts that she is free, safe and not subject to censorship, coercion and intimidation. The WTA has been clear on what is needed here, and we repeat our call for a full and transparent investigation – without censorship – into Peng Shuai’s sexual assault accusation.”

Simon made good on his promise Wednesday, suspending all WTA tournaments in China, including in Hong Kong.

“As a result, and with the full support of the WTA Board of Directors, I am announcing the immediate suspension of all WTA tournaments in China, including Hong Kong,” Simon added. “In good conscience, I don’t see how I can ask our athletes to compete there when Peng Shuai is not allowed to communicate freely and has seemingly been pressured to contradict her allegation of sexual assault”

More people and groups need to start pushing China on this.

WTA Dials It up a Notch Over Peng Shuai

With an assist from the UN? Wow.

Peng Shuai: UN calls for proof of Chinese tennis star's whereabouts – CNN

"What we would say is that it would be important to have proof of her whereabouts and wellbeing, and we would urge that there be an investigation with full transparency into her allegations of sexual assault," Liz Throssell, the spokesperson of the UN Human Rights office, told reporters in Geneva on Friday.

"According to available information, the former world doubles No. 1 hasn't been heard from publicly since she alleged on social media that she was sexually assaulted. We would stress that it is important to know where she is and know her state, know about her wellbeing," Throssell said.

The head of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Steve Simon has said he is willing to lose hundreds of millions of dollars worth of business in China if Peng is not fully accounted for and her allegations are not properly investigated.

"We're definitely willing to pull our business and deal with all the complications that come with it," Simon said in an interview Thursday with CNN. "Because this is certainly, this is bigger than the business," added Simon.

Wow, and for the NBA, people get in trouble for having “Free Tibet” on their shoes.

Kudos to the WTA and (surprisingly) the UN for taking this stance. China is becoming increasingly hostile to freedom and frankly to the rest of the world. They must be stopped.

This Case Seems Really Suspicious

Chinese tennis star who accused party leader of abuse has disappeared and now (allegedly) recants by email – HotAir

If you have any kind of public platform in China and you dare to say something the government doesn’t like, there’s a very good chance you will disappear. It has happened to bloggers covering the COVID outbreak, to billionaires, to doctors, to Chinese movie stars and now it seems to be happening to tennis star Peng Shuai.

Earlier this month, Peng wrote a post on the Chinese social media site Weibo accusing a senior member of the Communist Party named Zhang Gaoli of sexually assaulting her:

In the 1,500-character post, Peng gave a detailed account of her encounters with Zhang, now 75, which began a decade ago. Peng claims, in her post, she had an on-again, off-again affair with Zhang, who was married, starting before he rose up the party ranks and became vice premier.

About three years ago, after Zhang retired from his role, he invited her over to his house to play tennis with him and his wife. She said he then sexually assaulted her while his wife stood outside guarding the door…

Eeep.

Then someone claiming to be her sent an email in English recanting the whole story. The WTA isn’t buying it.

It was sent to the WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon, CGTN reported.

Simon has said he doubts the email is authentic.

“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 statement. “I have a hard time believing that Peng Shuai actually wrote the email we received or believes what is being attributed to her.”

He added: “Peng Shuai must be allowed to speak freely, without coercion or intimidation from any source. Her allegation of sexual assault must be respected, investigated with full transparency and without censorship.”

American media isn’t buying it either.

As Patrick McEnroe points out in this clip, the WTA approach to this issue is basically the opposite of the NBA approach to China. Instead of softening its tone, Steve Simon is basically calling BS on this email and demanding an investigation of the retired party official she accused. It’s good to see some people in the sports world still have a little backbone.

 

Something smells.