Anxiety and Anger Rise Over Disappearing Athlete’s Sexual Assault


There has never been a case like this in China: a leading athlete has made such significant claims against one of the country’s leading political figures. Although Simon took an email This week, Peng’s Simon cast doubt on his authenticity and insisted the tour wanted verifiable proof that Peng was safe. He said no one in the tennis community had been able to contact him directly.

Simon called full investigation An uncensored investigation into Peng’s sexual assault allegations. This may be even more difficult to achieve in a country less likely to adopt external demands for how it conducts its domestic affairs.

As the International Olympic Committee prepares to take the Winter Olympics to Beijing in February, it has compromised even more, advocating tact and behind-the-scenes diplomacy rather than direct confrontation. But Simon and WTA, after careful and lengthy consideration, decided to take a stand and double-crossed – insisting that the tour would be ready to withdraw from China, where there are 11 events, if Chinese authorities fail to comply. plan this year.

The men’s tour, which has four events in China, has given Peng ample support, but no such ultimatum yet. More commercially at risk, Simon took a much bolder path than his ATP colleague Andrea Gaudenzi, believing it was necessary to raise the temperature and raise global awareness about Peng’s situation.

“Speaking of allegations like this and sexual assault, if a woman has the courage to speak up and bring them up, you need to have the courage to follow through and follow the right process. the right solution at the end of the day,” Simon said in an interview on Sunday. “You can’t dilute or reconcile that kind of issue.”

1 male player Novak Djokovic said on Friday that he supports the WTA’s approach. “The whole community, the tennis community, should support him and his family, make sure he’s safe and sound because it would be a little weird if you were to hold tournaments on Chinese soil without resolving this situation,” he said. .

Peng had to be strong before, to overcome countless injuries, adversity, and isolation. Shortly before he left home at age 14, he had a procedure to repair a heart defect: he was sent by Chinese authorities to train at Evert Tennis Academy in Boca Raton, Fla.





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