Shuai Peng’s disappearance shakes sport and threatens China

Shuai Peng, a former world number one in doubles and champion of Roland Garros and Wimbledon, set off alarms when on November 2 she published a message on the Chinese social network Weibo accusing former Deputy Prime Minister Zhang Gaoli of having sexually abused women. her three years ago. Shuai Peng, 35, who is still playing on the circuit, said that Zhang Gaoli, an ally of President Xi Jinping, invited her to his home to play tennis and forced her to have sex with him. The Chinese player admitted that she had no evidence to support her accusations and that they had had consensual relationships several years ago, but that she was determined to speak up and report what happened.

The publication lasted just half an hour online and Shuai Peng has not been heard from again. The player is missing, no matter how much China has tried to camouflage the situation with a statement that has generated more uncertainty and fear than anything else. As pressure increased towards the Chinese government and towards the country, due to the non-existent news about the tennis player, the television station related to the CGTN regime issued a message supposedly written by Peng: “I am not missing. The allegations of sexual abuse are not true. I am resting at home and I am fine. Thanks for your concern”.

These words were quickly questioned by Steve Simon, president of the WTA -organism that directs the women’s circuit-, who despite the important and multimillion-dollar trade agreements that the circuit maintains with China, put the player’s well-being before anything else . “It is hard to believe that Shuai Peng wrote that email or that it can be attributed to her. Peng showed great courage in describing her allegation of sexual abuse against a senior Chinese government official. The WTA and the rest of the world need verifiable proof that you are safe. I have tried to contact her in various ways, all of them without success, ”Simon said.

It is here that the world realized the magnitude of the Shuai Peng case. Gerard Piqué, Serena Williams and dozens of athletes joined the hashtag #WhereIsPengShuai. “I am horrified and shocked after hearing the news about Shuai Peng. I hope she is safe and found as soon as possible. This has to be investigated and we can’t keep quiet, ”Serena claimed.

Amnesty International has also spoken out, attacking the Chinese Government and calling for a demonstration that Peng is safe. “The Chinese government has systematically silenced the #MeToo movement in the country. In addition to having a zero tolerance approach to criticism, it is extremely disturbing that Shuai Peng appears to be missing after having accused a former government leader of sexual assault, “said Doriane Lau, China researcher at Amnesty International.

WTA pressure

The day after Joe Biden announced that he is “considering” a US diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics, scheduled for February, to protest human rights violations in China, the UN on Friday called for evidence. on the state of health and the whereabouts of the tennis player. “It would be important to have proof of where you are and whether you are okay. We strongly urge that a fully transparent investigation be carried out into their allegations of sexual assault, “said the spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Liz Throssell. “This should be the case for all accusations of sexual assault,” he added, stressing that “sexual assaults exist in all societies.”

Now the threats come from the WTA. Steve Simon gave an interview to CNN warning that, if the case is not clarified, the circuit could leave the Asian country. This would mean that the ten tournaments currently being played in China would go to other locations, with the millionaire implications that this would entail. The jewel in the crown would be the WTA Finals tournament that Garbiñe Muguruza conquered on Sunday and which is held annually in Shenzhen. This year the teachers’ cup moved to Guadalajara (Mexico) on time due to the covid.

This tournament is the one that distributes the most money outside of the Grand Slams (five million dollars this season) and one of the most cared for by the WTA when bringing together the eight best players of the year and serving as a finishing touch to the campaign . “We are ready to withdraw our business from China and deal with all the complications that this entails,” said Steve Simon, who reiterated that, although they have tried to contact Peng via email and by phone, they have still not received a response. .