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The WTA has announced it will be suspending tournaments in China due to the ongoing situation with the country and tennis star Peng Shuai. Shuai has been gone from the public eye since posting allegations of sexual assault against a Chinese politician in early November.
The Chinese government has claimed that her social disappearance is a simple misunderstanding and that Shaui is perfectly fine in her home country.
JUST NOW: Amazing…see China censor @CNN in real time as @willripleyCNN reports on tennis star Peng Shuai.pic.twitter.com/iUbr1EXhRt
— John Berman (@JohnBerman) November 22, 2021
Since Shuai went public on a social media platform in her country, China has been on the defense about the allegations and has been censoring reports on the matter from their own television production.
Current and former tennis stars are speaking out about the situation in support of Shuai’s allegations.
Senior IOC member Dick Pound says he’s “really puzzled” by criticism of the IOC for its intervention in the case of Peng Shuai. “They found her in good health & good spirits” during a call between Peng and IOC head Thomas Bach, says Pound – yet the IOC hasn’t released the video. pic.twitter.com/HcBE0O5wTq
— Christiane Amanpour (@amanpour) November 25, 2021
Dick Pound, yes, that is his real name, a senior member of the IOC, says he is “puzzled” that people do not believe that Shuai is safe and in good health after her video call through the Chinese government.
The IOC believes that Shuai is safe and that no serious concerns for her health and safety need to be looked into further.
I acquired two video clips, which show Peng Shuai was having dinner with her coach and friends in a restaurant. The video content clearly shows they are shot on Saturday Beijing time. pic.twitter.com/HxuwB5TfBk
— Hu Xijin 胡锡进 (@HuXijin_GT) November 20, 2021
The situation continues to be shrouded in mystery, as a video has surfaced of the tennis star having a seemingly peaceful dinner with her coach and friends last Saturday in China. It will be interesting to see how this scary situation will play out and if Shuai truly is in a safe environment.
