By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday November 21, 2021
Peng Shuai’s whereabouts have been put into question ever since she accused a high-ranking Chinese official of sexual assault on her Weibo account on November 2nd.
As has been well-documented, Peng’s social media post was scrubbed from the internet within a half hour, and since then the sporting world – and the world at large – has rallied behind Peng, asking that she be located and that a full investigation into her allegations be made.
The latter does not appear to be in the works, but for now, it does appear that Peng is safe and sound. Yesterday, Chinese state media produced videos of Peng having dinner with family and her coach in Beijing. Today peng has taken part in a conference call with the International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach and the Athletes’ Commission Chair, Emma Terho.
During the 30-minute call, Peng thanked the IOC for its concern and explained that she is safe and well, and wants her privacy respected.
Reportedly, she has scheduled an in-person dinner with Back and Terho next January, when he arrives in Beijing.
The conference call removes doubt about Peng’s actual whereabouts but does nothing to alleviate concern about the allegations she made that she was sexually assaulted by Zhang Gaoli, the former vice-premier of the People’s Republic of China (2013-2018).
The Chinese government and the IOC are both motivated to see that the incident doesn’t ripple out of control with the Beijing Olympics set for next February, and the world watching and waiting for Peng’s allegations to be investigated.
The lack of mention of those allegations by the IOC has many wondering about the Committee's motivation.
It must be said that there is a very fine line to tread here. The harder the push by western media, the harder the Chinese government could come down on Peng and her family.
At this point, knowledge of her safety is a first consideration, and paramount, but the situation remains very much unresolved.