Concerns remain for Peng Shuai despite video call with IOC chief Thomas Bach
UK Foreign Office and the WTA still alarmed after Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai held a 30-minute video call with Thomas Bach.
Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai has reassured International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach that she is safe and well, the IOC has said in a statement.
Amid rising concerns for her well-being, the three time Olympic tennis player conducted a 30 minute video call on Sunday with Mr Bach, the head of the athletes commission Emma Terho, and the IOC Member in China Li Lingwei, who has known Peng Shuai for many years from her time in the Chinese Tennis Federation.
However despite the video, the UK Foreign Office said they remained concerned for her welfare and the Women’s Tennis Association raised doubts about the video, saying it is insufficient proof that Ms Peng is free and ‘able ... to take actions on her own, without coercion.”
The video call was the first verifiable sighting of Ms Peng, 35, who had not been seen or heard from since posting on social media on November 2 that the former Chinese vice premier Zhang Gaoli had coerced her into having sex. Over the past two weeks there has been increasing concern about Ms Peng’s welfare.
In a short statement issued from Olympic headquarters in Lausanne, Mr Bach said
Peng Shuai had thanked the IOC for its concern about her well-being.
“She explained that she is safe and well, living at her home in Beijing, but would like to have her privacy respected at this time,’’ Mr Bach said.
“That is why she prefers to spend her time with friends and family right now. Nevertheless, she will continue to be involved in tennis, the sport she loves so much.”
On Sunday morning, Chinese state media released video claiming it showed Ms Peng in a restaurant with friends.
Despite the new images, UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said they remained extremely concerned pending verifiable evidence that she was safe.
WTA Chief Executive Steve Simon, who had threatened to severe all links with Chinese tournaments, said of the restaurant footage: “While it is positive to see her, it remains unclear if she is free and able to make decisions and take actions on her own, without coercion or external interference. This video alone is insufficient.
“As I have stated from the beginning, I remain concerned about Peng Shuai’s health and safety and that the allegation of sexual assault is being censored and swept under the rug.”
The video appearance was a relief for Ms Terho, a five time winter Olympian from Finland and the current chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission.
“I was relieved to see that Peng Shuai was doing fine, which was our main concern,” Ms Terho said, who noted that Peng also appeared to be “relaxed’’.
“I offered her our support and to stay in touch at any time of her convenience, which she obviously appreciated,” said Ms Terho.
Mr Bach also invited Ms Peng to dinner when he arrives in Beijing in January, ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics which open on February 4.
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