Shuai Peng is in the middle of a rather nasty and tricky controversy. The Chinese player posted a statement on Chinese social media with some (unproven) allegations of sexual misbehavior by a former top politician. The statement was canceled after just 20 minutes and Shuai “disappeared” to be basically untraceable.
This raised the concern of her friends and colleague alongside the WTA. The tennis organization posted a statement asking the Chinese government for transparency and stating its own version of censorship.
The reaction of the WTA found the opposition of the Chinese government that posted a rather “creepy” post on social media with a letter that was supposedly written by Shuai Peng. The content of the letter seemed to be written by a lawyer and it was difficult to disagree with the WTA that it was hard to believe it was written by Peng.
That cursor blinking
“Hello everyone this is Peng Shuai.
Regarding the recent news released on the official website of the WTA, the content has not been confirmed or verified by myself and it was released without my consent. The news in that release, including the allegation of sexual assault, is not true. I’m not missing, nor am I unsafe. I’ve just been resting at home and everything is fine. Thank you again for caring about me.
If the WTA publishes any more news about me, please verify it with me and release it with my consent. As a professional tennis player, I thank you all for your companionship and consideration. I hope to promote Chinese tennis with you all if I have the chance in the future. I hope Chinese tennis will become better and better.
Once again, thank you for your consideration.”
However, it was noted that the image posted by the media has a cursor blinking on it and this raised some more doubts about the authenticity or if Peng wrote the letter under duress.
The reply from the WTA
The WTA CEO Steve Simon posted the following statement:
“The statement released today by Chinese state media concerning Peng Shuai only raises my concerns as to her safety and whereabouts.
I have a hard time believing that Peng Shuai actually wrote the email we received or believes what is being attributed to her. Peng Shuai displayed incredible courage in describing an allegation of sexual assault against a former top official in the Chinese government. The WTA and the rest of the world need independent and verifiable proof that she is safe. I have repeatedly tried to reach her via numerous forms of communication, to no avail.
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.
The voices of women need to be heard and respected, not censored nor dictated to.”
Shuai Peng in 2021
At the moment ranked no.281, Shuai played her last match on the 21st of February 2020 when she lost to world no.99 Magdalena Frech 6-4 6-7(5) 6-0 in the qualifications in Doha (draw).
This year the Chinese owns a composed 0-0 match record.
Shuai Peng |
| Embed from Getty Images |
