The Women’s Tennis Association chairman and CEO Steve Simon announces suspension of all WTA tournaments in China, including Hong Kong.
Simon’s decision of suspension of all tournaments in China was based on Chinese officials’ lack of transparency in the aftermath of tennis player Peng Shuai’s sexual assault claim. The claim was against a top Chinese government official, according to a statement released Wednesday.
Peng Shuai, 35, went missing for three weeks after accusing a Chinese official of sexual assault.
In early November, she claimed that China’s former Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli sexually abused her in a message on social media.
The WTA’s president, Steve Simon, raised “severe reservations” that Peng was “free, safe, and not subjected to intimidation.”
Peng’s assertion has generated no comment from Zhang, who left in 2018, or the Chinese government. The issue is not permissible for an open discussion on China’s tightly secure and controlled internet.
“I don`t see how I can ask our athletes to compete there when Peng Shuai is not allowed to communicate freely and has seemingly been pressured to contradict her allegation of sexual assault,” WTA Chief Executive Steve Simon said in a statement.
“Given the current state of affairs, I am also greatly concerned about the risks that all of our players and staff could face if we were to hold events in China in 2022.”
Beijing is preparing to host the Winter Olympics in February of next year during the announcement.
International human rights organizations and others have advocated for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics. It is due to China’s human rights record.