Less than half a year after accusing China’s former Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault, Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai has announced her retirement from the sport.
She revealed this in a recent interview with French newspaper L’Equipe, where the newspaper was allowed a one-hour slot with Peng after submitting their interview questions in advance. The interview was arranged by the Chinese Olympic Committee.
During the interview, Peng was also accompanied by Wang Kan, the Chinese Olympic Committee chief of staff.
Peng Denies That She Was Sexually Assaulted Despite Earlier Claims
In November last year, Peng took to Chinese social media platform Weibo to write about her experiences with Zhang, including how he forced her to have sex during their relationship that lasted a few years.
However, after her post went viral, it was deleted and several search terms pertaining to the matter were censored. Peng then proceeded to disappear from the public eye, causing many across the globe to be concerned.
Following that, the World Tennis Association (WTA) pressurised China to provide more information regarding Peng’s whereabouts and current condition, all while suspending tennis tournaments in China.
When she resurfaced, she made a few public appearances that many deemed as “orchestrated”.
In the interview with L’Equipe, Peng was asked why her original post on Weibo had been removed.
To that, Peng revealed that she was the one who took the post down and answered, “Why? Because I wanted to.”
“Sexual assault? I never said that anyone made me submit to a sexual assault,” she further highlighted.
With regards to how her post was received worldwide, Peng commented, “This post resulted in an enormous misunderstanding from the outside world… My wish is that the meaning of this post no longer be skewed.”
International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Response
After Peng vanished from the public eye last year, the IOC released a statement that included a snapshot of Peng in a video call with IOC President Thomas Bach.
The IOC has, however, yet to comment on any of Peng’s allegations even until now.
Last year, Bach claimed that in order to investigate the matter, IOC was trying to pursue “quiet diplomacy”. This statement then upset people as many viewed it as a way to protect China, the organisers of the Winter Olympics that are currently ongoing.
On Monday (7 February), IOC announced that Peng and Bach, along with former Chair of the Athletes’ Commission, Kirsty Coventry, had dinner at the Olympic Club in Beijing during the weekend.
It was only said that the meeting followed up with “a series of telephone conversations… over the past few months”.
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Additionally, when the matter was brought up during a daily news conference in Bejing on the same day, IOC’s spokesman, Mark Adams, did not reveal whether IOC believed Peng’s claims.
He mentioned, “I don’t think it’s a judgement for the IOC to make—we are a sporting organisation.
“I don’t think it’s up to us to be able to judge, just as it’s not for you to judge, either, in one way or another, her position.”
Peng’s Future Plans
In IOC’s statement, Peng expressed her disappointment at not qualifying for Tokyo 2020 previously.
However, she also stated that she wishes to travel to Europe after the COVID-19 pandemic ends.
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