The president of the International Olympic Committee said he had spoken to Peng Shuai in the latest attempt to quell rising international concern over the wellbeing of the Chinese tennis star.
Thomas Bach said he held a 30-minute video call with Peng on Sunday, with the IOC stating she was “safe and well” in Beijing but that she “would like to have her privacy respected at this time”.
Prior to Sunday, Peng had not been seen or heard from since early November after she alleged via social media that former Chinese vice-premier Zhang Gaoli had assaulted her on at least one occasion. She also claimed she had a long-running affair with the powerful official.
Peng’s November 2 social media post outlining her allegations against Zhang has not been verified. The post was immediately deleted and all mentions of it by others were blocked by Chinese censors.
Earlier at the weekend, Chinese state media released videos purportedly showing Peng Shuai in public, attempting to dispel concern over her whereabouts.
The IOC had come under heavy criticism for not previously using its influence to intervene in the case, ahead of the Winter Games being staged in Beijing next year.
The Olympics organisers said Emma Terho, chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, also joined the call with Bach. “She appeared to be relaxed,” said Terho. “I offered her our support and to stay in touch.”
The IOC said Peng also accepted an invitation to dinner with Bach, Terho and Li Lingwei, a former badminton Olympic champion, in January. Li, who joined the call, has known Peng for many years, the IOC said.
Peng’s case has drawn widespread attention to China’s authoritarian practices of censorship, forced disappearances and suppression of women’s rights activism.
Hu Xijin, editor of the nationalist outlet Global Times, posted videos on Twitter from the Fila Kids Junior Tennis Challenger event held in Beijing on Sunday morning.
One 37-second clip showed Peng courtside alongside tennis officials. She smiled and waved after her name was introduced. Hu said the video was shot by a Global Times reporter.
Peng Shuai showed up at the opening ceremony of a teenager tennis match final in Beijing on Sunday morning. Global Times photo reporter Cui Meng captured her at scene. pic.twitter.com/7wlBcTMgGy
— Hu Xijin 胡锡进 (@HuXijin_GT) November 21, 2021
Hours earlier, Hu posted two other videos, claiming they showed Peng having dinner at a restaurant on Saturday with her coach and friends.
“In the past few days, she stayed in her own home freely and she didn’t want to be disturbed,” he said in a separate tweet.
Shen Shiwei, a state television employee, posted a video of Peng signing autographs at the event. He had earlier tweeted photos of the athlete surrounded by toys and claimed they were shared by her friends.
The Financial Times could not verify the authenticity of the images or videos.
Steve Simon, chief executive of the Women’s Tennis Association, said the video from the dinner was “insufficient” to prove Peng’s safety.
“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 . . . 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,” he said.
The episode comes as calls rise for boycotts of the Beijing Winter Olympics, due to start in February, in protest at human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, on Friday said the US was “deeply concerned” over Peng and called for Chinese authorities to “provide independent and verifiable proof of her whereabouts and that she is safe”.
The biggest stars in professional tennis including Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have joined the WTA in publicly supporting Peng, a former top-ranked doubles player. There have been widespread calls not only for the 35-year-old’s safety to be guaranteed but also for investigations into her claims against Zhang.
Simon, who has suggested that the association might be willing to pull events out of China, added: “I have been clear about what needs to happen and our relationship with China is at a crossroads.”
Zhang, now retired and 40 years older than Peng, joined the Chinese Communist party’s most powerful body, the Politburo Standing Committee, in 2012. Peng’s detailed accusations against a senior official are unparalleled in China and remain censored.
Olympics chief holds video call with missing Chinese tennis star
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