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WTA CEO Steve Simon announced on Wednesday that the organization will suspend all events held in China in response to Allegations of sexual assault and subsequent disappearance of Chinese tennis star Peng ShuaiSince on November 2 she accused former Communist Party leader Zhang Gaoli of forcing her to have sex, she has only appeared in public once.
This move was made after years of goodwill and established relations between WTA and China. China currently holds 11 WTA tournaments and plans to host the WTA finals in Shenzhen from 2022 to 2030.
This is part of Simon’s statement, Via WTATennis.com:
“I feel very sorry that things have developed so far. The tennis world in China and Hong Kong is full of great people who have worked with us for many years. They should be proud of their achievements, hospitality and success. But unless China takes what we ask for Steps, we cannot hold matches in China and put our players and staff at risk. Chinese leaders have no choice but to leave the WTA. I still hope that our request can be heard and the Chinese authorities will take measures to resolve them legally. this problem.”
Simon threatened to withdraw WTA business from China on November 18th. He did so on that Wednesday because the country failed to “provably prove that Peng is free and able to survive without interference or intimidation. Talk down and fully investigate allegations of sexual assault” in a fair and transparent manner. “
Chinese state media released a video of Peng dining in Beijing with her friends and coach on November 20. It is said that the former world number one also appeared in a video conference of the International Olympic Committee a day later. Emma Tejo, a member of the IOC’s four-person video conference and chairman of the Athletes Committee, claimed in a statement that Peng was “very good.”
But those private appearances did not calm the WTA’s concerns about Peng’s safety. This prompted Simon to suspend all WTA events held in China.
Simon wrote: “Although we now know where Peng is, I seriously doubt whether she is free, safe and free from censorship, coercion and intimidation.” “The WTA has made it clear what is needed here, and we once again call for the sexual assault charges against Peng Shuai. Conduct a comprehensive and transparent investigation-no review.
“All of this is unacceptable and cannot be made acceptable. If powerful people can suppress women’s voices and cover up allegations of sexual assault, then the foundation of the WTA-women’s equality-will suffer tremendously. Frustration. I will not and cannot let this happen to the WTA and its players.”
Peng made her allegations in a deleted online post on the Chinese social media site Weibo. But China denied these allegations and reviewed surrounding discussions. Simon believes that the country “has not resolved this very serious problem in any credible way” and does not want more WTA athletes to be subject to similar scrutiny.
Simon wrote: “In my conscience, when Peng Shuai was not allowed to communicate freely and seemed to be forced to refute her allegations of sexual assault, I don’t understand how I could ask our athletes to compete there.” “Given the current situation, I I am also very worried about the risks that all our players and staff may face if we host a tournament in China in 2022.”
Although losing China’s business will cause economic losses to WTA, Simon encourages others to speak publicly about sexual assault regardless of the cost.
“WTA will do everything possible to protect its players,” Simon wrote. “While we are doing this, I hope that leaders around the world can continue to speak up in order to bring justice to Peng and all women, regardless of the economic consequences.”
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