The International Olympic Committee has conceded it can’t be certain Peng Shuai is safe, despite holding two video calls with the Chinese tennis star.
Peng hasn’t been seen in more than a month, after using social media to accuse a former high-ranking Chinese official of sexual assault.
Her only contact with the outside world has been two video calls with IOC boss Thomas Bach.
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The mystery surrounding her safety has resulted in the WTA announcing it will not stage tournaments in China in 2022.
The IOC has been under fire for its handling of the affair, with Beijing due to host the Winter Olympics in February.
No transcripts of the calls between Peng and Bach have been released, which has done little to quell fears that the 35-year-old is being detained in some capacity.
“We can’t provide you with absolute certainty on anything,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams said.
“All we can do is do the best we can in the process that we believe is in the best interests of the wellbeing of the athlete.
“We can’t give assurances and we don’t know the full facts.”
Earlier this week, human rights lawyer Teng Biao said the situation is totally unacceptable.
“Of course, Peng Shuai is not safe,” he told CNN.
“What we know is she’s still alive and she’s still in China. But she is definitely not safe, not well and she’s totally controlled by the Chinese authorities.
“And nobody knows where she is being detained.”
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The ITF, which runs the World Tennis Tour, one level below the WTA and ATP Tours, confirmed overnight it will not schedule a tournament in China in 2022.
In 2019, the last full season before the COVID-19 pandemic, China hosted around 40 tournaments.
The ITF’s stance places pressure on the ATP to announce a similar boycott, bringing them into line with the WTA.
Earlier this week ATP boss Andrea Gaudenzi released a statement that has been widely panned for the fact it doesn’t specifically mention China.
“The situation involving Peng Shuai continues to raise serious concerns within and beyond our sport,” it said.
“The response to those concerns has so far fallen short. We will continue to consult with our members and monitor any developments as this issue evolves.”
Former world No.1 Andy Roddick said it was a perfect example of “how to say a lot of words and say nothing.”
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