The Association of Professional Tennis Players (WTA) is suspending all tennis tournaments in China and Hong Kong with immediate effect due to the Peng Shuai case. Steve Simon, chairman of the players’ organization, announced this on Wednesday.
“I cannot in good conscience ask our athletes to compete if Peng Shuai is not allowed to speak freely and has apparently been pressured to withdraw their allegations of sexual assault,” said Simon. The WTA boss was also concerned about the safety of players and coaches.
In early November, 35-year-old Peng Shuai reported on the Twitter-like medium Weibo that she had been sexually abused by former Chinese Vice Prime Minister Zhang Gaoli. The entry was deleted as well as numerous Internet entries about Peng, of which there was no trace for more than two weeks. The WTA judged later statements to be made under duress, Internet clips allegedly showing Peng in a safe place disappeared again.
“Even though we now know where she is, I have serious doubts that she is free and safe – and not subject to censorship, coercion and intimidation,” said Simon in his detailed statement. “The WTA has made clear what is needed and we reiterate our call for a full and transparent investigation without censorship.” He admired Peng’s “strength and courage”, the WTA will do everything to protect its athletes – “regardless of financial consequences”.
Celebrities, not just from tennis, had publicly advocated Peng Shuai. Most recently, the European Union intervened and demanded “verifiable evidence” of the player’s whereabouts and well-being. Thomas Bach, German President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), made a video call with Peng, but then had to listen to the accusation that he had let himself be instrumentalized.
China was silent for a long time and then expressed itself. “I think some people should stop deliberately and maliciously inflaming, let alone politicizing, this issue,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian. “I think you all saw her attending public events and a video call the other day with Thomas Bach. ” In the WTA tournament calendar, there were nine China events (2019) before the pandemic began, the huge empire is one of the largest target markets for women’s tennis.
.
