WTA suspends tournaments in China due to Shuai Peng case

The WTA has decided to suspend the tournaments held in China by the censorship and uncertainties that have surrounded the case of the tenista Shuai Peng, who denounced the sexual abuse of a former leader of the Chinese Government and of which there is hardly any evidence, apart from communications from media related to the Government, since the complaint was made.

As explained by Steve Simon, President of the WTA, all WTA tournaments held in China, including Hong Kong, are suspended. “I don’t see how our athletes can compete there while Shuai Peng cannot communicate freely and has been pressured to contradict her allegations of sexual abuse,” Simon said.

“With the full support of the WTA Board of Directors, I am announcing the immediate suspension of all WTA tournaments in China, including Hong Kong.”

– wta (@WTA) December 1, 2021

This means the suspension of nine tournaments, including the jewel in the WTA crown, the Masters Cup, which should have started to be played in Shenzhen (China) last year. The tournament was suspended in its 2020 edition due to the pandemic and this year it was moved to Guadalajara, Mexico, on time.

“The WTA will do everything possible to protect its players. I hope that other world leaders can continue to fight for justice for Peng and for all the women of the world, regardless of the financial consequences,” added Simon.

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Peng’s case began on November 2, when in a message on her social networks she denounced former Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli for having abused her for three years. This message was deleted just half an hour after it was posted and Peng was missing for several days.

To calm the situation, a Chinese television station related to the Government issued a letter, on behalf of Peng, requesting privacy, denying the complaint and assuring that he was well. This only increased the concern towards the Chinese player, of whom images and videos were distributed, once again through media and journalists close to the Government, in subsequent days.

Different organizations with the HIM-HER-IT and International Amnesty They showed concern about the lack of contact with Peng and the need for her to show that she was really okay.

Without connection

The WTA, always through Simon, assured that it had not been able to contact Peng by mail or phone, and threatened China with suspending all the tournaments currently in the country, despite the economic damage that this would entail. To be certain of Peng’s safety and freedom, Simon requested a video call with her in a room where she was assured that only the tennis player would be there. This did not happen.

It was then that Peng made a call with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), more specifically with its president, Thomas Bach, in which he reported that he was well and that he is in Beijing, insisting once again that his privacy be respected. . There were no images of the call other than a photograph.

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The WTA, in the face of the alarming lack of news from Peng, has decided to take this drastic decision, which also puts the ATP in check, which also has several tournaments in China, less than the WTA, yes, and that at all times has shown his support for the tennis player.

Peng is a former world number one in the doubles category and champion of Roland Garros and Wimbledon. “It is unfortunate to have had to get to this point. Both China and Hong Kong are full of very good people with whom we have worked for many years. But if China does not carry out the measures we have asked of them, we cannot jeopardize to our players and workers holding tournaments there. Chinese leaders have left the WTA with no choice, “said Simon.