Peng Shuai Sexualt Assault Case: Chinese Tennis Star Tells Newspaper That She Never Wrote of Being Assaulted

Beijing, Dec 20 (AP) Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai has advised a Singapore newspaper that she by no means stated she wrote of having been sexually assaulted, regardless of a November social media submit attributed to her that accused a former high Communist Party official of having pressured her into intercourse. The Lianhe Zaobao Chinese-language newspaper posted video of Peng it says was taken Sunday in Shanghai by which she stated she has been primarily staying at residence in Beijing however was free to come back and go as she selected.  “First of all, I wish to emphasise one thing that is essential. I've by no means stated that I wrote that anybody sexually assaulted me. I want to stress this level very clearly," Peng advised the newspaper's reporter. The reporter didn't ask how or why the prolonged and extremely detailed November 2 submit appeared or whether or not Peng's account had been hacked. Rafael Nadal Tests Positive For COVID-19 Following Participation in 2021 Mubadala World Tennis Championship The paper stated it interviewed Peng at a promotional occasion for the Beijing Winter Olympic Games which start February 4. She was filmed on the commentary deck of a facility the place she watched a freestyle ski competitors alongside former NBA star Yao Ming and different Chinese sports activities figures. Peng dropped out of sight after the accusation in opposition to former vice-premier Zhang Gaoli briefly appeared on her verified Weibo social media earlier than being swiftly eliminated. Screenshots of the submit had been shared throughout the web, drawing widespread concern about Peng's security from politicians, fellow tennis stars and the World Tennis Association, which introduced it was suspending all occasions in China indefinitely. Following the posting, the three-time Olympian and former Wimbledon champion appeared standing beside a tennis court docket in Beijing, waving and signing oversize commemorative tennis balls for kids. The overseas arm of state TV additionally issued a press release in English attributed to Peng that retracted her accusation in opposition to Zhang. WTA chief govt Steve Simon questioned the emailed assertion's legitimacy whereas others stated it solely elevated their concern about her security. In the Lianhe Zaobao interview, Peng stated she wrote the assertion in Chinese and it was later translated into English however that there was no substantive distinction in which means between the 2 variations. Zhang, 75, was a member of the celebration's omnipotent Politburo Standing Committee till 2018 and a high lieutenant to president and celebration chief Xi Jinping. He has not appeared in public or commented on Peng's accusation. Simon stated the transfer to place a halt to the tour's play in China, together with Hong Kong, got here with the backing of the WTA board of administrators, gamers, tournaments and sponsors. It was the strongest public stand in opposition to China taken by a sports activities physique — and one that might value the WTA hundreds of thousands of {dollars}. Simon has made repeated requires China to hold out an inquiry into the 35-year-old Peng's accusations and to permit the WTA to speak straight with the previous No. 1-ranked doubles participant and proprietor of titles at Wimbledon and the French Open. The IOC has taken a distinct tack, with high officers saying they imagine Peng is okay after video chatting along with her. The controversy surrounding Peng has added to protests over Beijing's internet hosting of the Winter Games as a result of of the federal government's human rights abuses.