Peng Shuai: WTA remains 'deeply concerned' about Chinese tennis star

One of China's most recognizable sports activities stars, `Peng publicly accused former Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of coercing her into intercourse at his dwelling, in response to screenshots of a since-deleted social media put up dated November 2.

On November 21, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) mentioned in a press release that its president, Thomas Bach, had a 30-minute video name with three-time Olympian Peng, joined by a Chinese sports activities official and an IOC official.The assertion mentioned that, through the name, Peng seemed to be "doing fine" and "relaxed," and mentioned she "would like to have her privacy respected." The IOC didn't clarify how the video name with Peng had been organized."It's a whole different order of magnitude to see Thomas Bach, in a photograph with a woman, Peng Shuai, under intense pressure, we can reasonably assume from other cases, to walk back her claims of sexual assault, rather than figuring doing everything in his and the organization's power to call that out and make sure that she is afforded the support and investigation and prosecution that may well be warranted," HRW China Director Sophie Richardson mentioned on November 23.

'Nobody was in a position to set up contact'

Long-time IOC member Dick Pound advised CNN's Christiane Amanpour this week he was "puzzled" by the response to the video name between Peng and Bach."Basically, a number of folks all over the world have been seeking to see what occurred to Peng Shuai and no person was in a position to set up contact."Only the IOC was in a position to take action, and there was a dialog that was held by video with Thomas Bach, who's an older Olympian, and two youthful feminine IOC members. Nobody's launched the video as a result of I assume that side of it was personal. "They found her in good health and in good spirits and they saw no evidence of confinement or anything like that."Pound added that he has not seen a recording of the video name, however is "simply relying on the combined judgment of the three IOC members who were on the call."Zhang has saved a low profile and pale from public life since his retirement in 2018, and there's no public info referring to his present whereabouts.Before retiring as vice premier, Zhang was the top of a Chinese authorities working group for the Beijing Games. In the function he inspected venues, visited athletes, unveiled official emblems, and held conferences to coordinate preparation work. Zhang beforehand met with Bach, the IOC president who held a video name with Peng, on a minimum of one event, with the 2 being photographed collectively shaking palms within the Chinese capital in 2016.