By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, February 7, 2022
Peng Shuai is calling sexual assault allegations made in a November social media post "a huge misunderstanding" in a new interview with L'Equipe.
Photo credit: Getty
Peng Shuai is calling sexual assault claims sparked by her social media post "a huge misunderstanding."
The former doubles world No. 1 has again denied claiming a former Chinese Vice Premier of sexually assaulting her.
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“Sexual assault? I never said that anyone made me submit to a sexual assault,” Peng Shuai told L’Equipe in her first interview with western media since a social media post from her account alleged China’s former Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli "forced" her to have sex at his home after they played tennis together.
Following the post on Weibo, China's version of Twitter, Peng Shuai was not seen publicly for about three weeks.
The former Wimbledon doubles champion asserts she removed the social media post detailing the alleged sexual assault that claimed the former Vice Premier attacker her in his home while a security guard stood ouside the room.
“I erased it. Why? Because I wanted to,” Peng Shuai told L'Equipe.
That post generated “a huge misunderstanding” globally, Peng Shuai told L’Equipe though she did not specify exactly what was misunderstood. She said she hopes her case “stops being misrepresented” and that media “stop hyping this.”
Peng Shuai, who celebrated her 36th birthday last month, strongly suggested she’s retiring and will not rejoin the tour.
“Considering my age, my multiple surgeries and the pandemic that forced me to stop for so long, I believe it will be very difficult to regain my physical level,” she told L’Equipe.
Peng Shuai’s latest comments have been met with skepticism by many western journalists, who point out this interview was conducted under strict conditions.
L’Equipe was required to submit questions in advance and the interview itself was done at the Winter Olympics in Beijing with a Chinese official present throughout translating her answers from Chinese. Fear of reprisals from a repressive regime toward herself and her family is likely a driving force behind Peng Shuai's recent comments, say some western experts on China.
BBC China correspondent Stephen McDonell compared the Q&A to a "propaganda exercise" saying it raised more questions than answers.
WTA CEO Steve Simon reiterated the Tour's call for a "formal investigation into the allegations."
“It’s always good to see Peng Shuai, whether in an interview or attending the Olympic Games," Simon said in a statement. "However, her recent in-person interview does not alleviate any of our concerns about her initial post from November 2nd.
"To reiterate our view, Peng took a bold step in publicly coming forth with the accusation that she was sexually assaulted by a senior Chinese government leader. As we would do with any of our players globally, we have called for a formal investigation into the allegations by the appropriate authorities and an opportunity for the WTA to meet with Peng - privately - to discuss her situation.
"We continue to hold firm on our position and our thoughts remain with Peng Shuai."
It is Peng Shuai's second public denial that she was a victim of sexual assault.
"I have never said or written that anyone sexually assaulted me," Peng Shuai told Chinese-language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao. "This point must be emphasized very clearly."
The WTA, which cancelled all 2022 tournaments in China in reponse to Peng Shuai's case, has said previous video interviews she did with the IOC do not adress its questions on the former Wimbledon doubles champion's safety and ability to speak freely.
The videos "don't alleviate or address the WTA's concern about her wellbeing and ability to communicate without censorship or coercion,” the Tour said in a statement last December.
The WTA said neither photos nor video address the serious concerns it has for her safety nor does it address the serious sexual assault claim Peng Shuai publicly made against China's former Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli. She says he "forced" her to have sex at his home after they played tennis together.
In her November social media post, Peng Shuai alleges she and the now 75-year-old Zhang Gaoli had what she’s called an extra-marital “relationship” for several years. The Roland Garros doubles champion said he broke off their relationship as he rose higher up the political ranks over fears she would expose it. Then, Peng Shuai says, he invited her to his home to play tennis and sexually assaulted her afterward.
Given the gravity of these allegations and Peng Shuai’s safety, the WTA continues to call for a full, transparent investigation into her claims.