New Delhi, November 18th : .The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), has cast doubts over an email that was released by Chinese state media and attributed to Peng Shuai, a tennis player who made sexual assault accusations against a former Vice-Premier. Steve Simon, WTA chairman and CEO stated that the statement made today by Chinese media regarding Peng Shuai raises concerns about her safety.
I have difficulty believing Peng Shuai wrote the email that we received, or believe what she is claiming to have written.
Peng Shuai showed incredible courage when describing the allegation that a top Chinese official had been sexually assaulted.WTA members and others around the globe need to see independent, verifiable evidence that she is secure.”I have tried numerous times to contact her through various forms of communication but to no avail.”
Simon stated that Peng should be free to express herself without fear or coercion from anyone.It is important to investigate her allegation that she was sexually assaulted with full transparency.
Simon stated, “The voices and opinions of women must be heard and respected.Not censored or dictated to.”
The Guardian reports that a growing number of Chinese feminist organizations and tennis players are concerned about Peng’s whereabouts after Peng accused senior officials of sexual assault.
Peng is one of China’s most prominent sporting celebrities.She hasn’t been heard from publicly since November 2nd, when she posted a Weibo message in which Peng claimed that Zhang Gaoli, former Vice Premier, coerced and had an affair.
China’s censors took down the post, but it still became viral.Subsequent responses and posts, including keywords like “tennis” and other words, were also blocked.Peng was removed from China’s Internet.
WTA demanded a full, fair and transparent investigation into allegations of sexual assault against a former Chinese leader.
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