Peng Shuai tells paper she never wrote of being assaulted

2 years ago 282

BEIJING – Chinese tennis prima Peng Shuai has denied saying she was sexually assaulted, contempt a November societal media station attributed to her that accused a erstwhile apical Communist Party authoritative of forcing her into sex.

The Lianhe Zaobao Chinese-language paper posted video of Peng it says was taken Sunday successful Shanghai successful which she said she has been chiefly staying astatine location successful Beijing but was escaped to travel and spell arsenic she chose.

“First of all, I privation to stress thing that is precise important. I person ne'er said that I wrote that anyone sexually assaulted me. I request to stress this constituent precise clearly," Peng told the newspaper's reporter.

The newsman did not inquire however oregon wherefore the lengthy and highly elaborate Nov. 2 station appeared oregon whether Peng's relationship had been hacked.

The insubstantial said it interviewed Peng astatine a promotional lawsuit for the Beijing Winter Olympic Games which statesman Feb. 4. She was filmed connected the reflection platform of a installation wherever she watched a freestyle skis contention alongside erstwhile NBA prima Yao Ming and different Chinese sports figures.

Peng dropped retired of show aft the accusation against erstwhile Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli concisely appeared connected her verified Weibo societal media earlier being swiftly removed. Screen shots of the station were shared crossed the internet, drafting wide interest astir Peng’s information from politicians, chap tennis stars and the World Tennis Association, which announced it was suspending each events successful China indefinitely.

Following the posting, the three-time Olympian and erstwhile Wimbledon champion appeared lasting beside a tennis tribunal successful Beijing, waving and signing oversize commemorative tennis balls for children. The overseas limb of authorities TV besides issued a connection successful English attributed to Peng that retracted her accusation against Zhang.

WTA main enforcement Steve Simon questioned the emailed statement's legitimacy portion others said it lone accrued their interest astir her safety. In the Lianhe Zaobao interview, Peng said she wrote the connection successful Chinese and it was aboriginal translated into English but that determination was nary substantive quality successful meaning betwixt the 2 versions.

Zhang, 75, was a subordinate of the party’s all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee until 2018 and a apical lieutenant to president and enactment person Xi Jinping. He has not appeared successful nationalist oregon commented connected Peng's accusation.

Simon said the determination to enactment a halt to the tour’s play successful China, including Hong Kong, came with the backing of the WTA committee of directors, players, tournaments and sponsors. It was the strongest nationalist basal against China taken by a sports assemblage — and 1 that could outgo the WTA millions of dollars.

Simon has made repeated calls for China to transportation retired an enquiry into the 35-year-old Peng’s accusations and to let the WTA to pass straight with the erstwhile No. 1-ranked doubles subordinate and proprietor of titles astatine Wimbledon and the French Open.

The IOC has taken a antithetic tack, with apical officials saying they judge Peng is good aft video chatting with her.

The contention surrounding Peng has added to protests implicit Beijing's hosting of the Winter Games due to the fact that of the government's quality rights abuses.

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