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‘Huge misunderstanding’ – Peng Shuai denies sexual assault accusation
Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai has held private talks with the President of the International Olympic Committee, in Beijing
Shuai disappeared from public life after making sexual abuse accusations against a political official in November.
The 36-year-old met with Thomas Bark, and he was joined by the former Chair of the Athletes’ Commission and IOC member Kirsty Coventry.
Bark previously held a private phone conversation with Shuai in November.
The meeting took place on Saturday over dinner at the Olympic Club in Beijing.
He says it’s up to the tennis player on whether she wanted an inquiry into the alleged assault.
The IOC has since released a statement
“During the dinner, the three spoke about their common experience as athletes at the Olympic Games, and Peng Shuai spoke of her disappointment at not being able to qualify for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. In this context, she also shared her intention to travel to Europe when the COVID-19 pandemic is over, and the IOC President invited her to Lausanne to visit the IOC and The Olympic Museum, to continue the conversation on their Olympic experiences. Peng Shuai accepted this invitation,” the statement read.
“Kirsty Coventry and Peng Shuai also agreed that they would remain in contact. And all three agreed that any further communication about the content of the meeting would be left to her discretion.”
Tennis star Peng Shuai says there has been a “huge misunderstanding”
Peng Shuai spoke to non-Chinese media for the first time since November last year.
That’s when she appeared to post and later delete allegations of sexual assault against a Chinese official on Weibo.
The sporting star has now come out to an old French newspaper, saying that the allegations were an “enormous misunderstanding.”
However, here’s the catch – the interview was done in highly controlled circumstances.
The paper had to submit questions in advance.
Her interview was conducted at the Winter Olympics and a representative from China’s Olympic Committee was beside her, translating her comments
Peng told the outlet she was living a normal life – and would like to know, “why such concern?” saying “I never said anyone sexually assaulted me”
The 36-year-old also hinted she could retire from professional tennis, commenting on her age, surgeries and the pandemic as factors.
This whole stunt has left more questions unanswered, with some critics saying the highly controlled comments are a propaganda exercise
The IOC continues to be slammed by some rights groups for failing to address China’s human rights record as the Winter Games take place In Beijing.