Peng Shuai has spoken to independent media for the first time since raising sexual assault allegations against a former high-profile Chinese politician.
The grand slam doubles champion spoke to French media outlet L’Equipe from a hotel room in Beijing, joined by Chinese Olympic Committee chief of staff Wang Kan.
“First of all, I would like to thank all the ATP and WTA players, all the athletes and all the personalities in large numbers who cared about me,” Peng said.
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“But I didn’t think there would be such concern and I would like to know: why such concern?
“I never disappeared, everyone could see me.
“What happened – I already answered this question, during an interview in Shanghai as well as by an email addressed to the WTA, and many other emails.
“This post has given rise to a huge misunderstanding from the outside world. I hope that we no longer distort the meaning of this post. And I also hope that we don’t add more hype on this.”
Not for the first time, Peng also retracted the sexual assault allegations she had made against former Chinese vice-premier Zhang Gaoli in November.
“I never said anyone sexually assaulted me,” Peng said.
“I never disappeared. It’s just that a lot of people, like my friends, including from the IOC, messaged me, and it was quite impossible to reply to so many messages.
“But with my close friends, I always remained in close contact. I discussed with them, answered their emails, I also discussed with the WTA.
“But, at the end of the year, their website’s communication computer was changed and many players had difficulty logging in at that time.
“But we always kept in touch with colleagues. That’s why I don’t know why the information that I had disappeared, spread.”
The WTA has responded to the saga by announcing a boycott of all events in China in a move that could cost more than a billion dollars.
While Peng has previously spoken to IOC boss Thomas Bach, WTA chief Steve Simon has said he’s not satisfied that Peng is safe and free.
“I saw the statement on the official WTA website,” Peng said.
“So after reading this statement, I responded to WTA president Steve Simon myself.
“Several copies were sent, and these emails I wrote myself. This is my personal statement. The same evening, I also sent it by WeChat to my colleagues in the players’ department in order to personally confirm that I was the author of the messages sent from my work email.”
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