WTA President Steve Simon "remains deeply concerned about Peng's freedom from censorship or coercion and has decided not to contact her via email again until he is certain that her responses are personal and not those of its censors, "a spokesperson for the body told AFP.

"Steve Simon contacted Peng Shuai through different communication channels. He sent him two emails, but it was clear that his responses were influenced by others," said the spokesperson.

Censorship

The 35-year-old player disappeared a few days in November, after posting a long message on Chinese social network Weibo about her relationship with former Deputy Prime Minister Zhang Gaoli, 40 years her senior and retired since.

In this text, quickly censored on the Chinese internet, she told in particular how he forced her to have sex three years ago before making her his mistress.

Despite the censorship, the message had been made public worldwide, prompting a series of reactions under the slogan #WhereIsPengShuai (where is Peng Shuai).

Infographic on Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai John SAEKI AFP / Archives

Many big names in tennis, from Chris Evert to Novak Djokovic via the governing bodies of the WTA and his male counterpart ATP have demanded an explanation from China.

Beyond the sporting world, the political world has also got involved with requests for clarification addressed to Beijing in particular by France, the United States, the United Kingdom, or the UN.

Peng Shuai finally reappeared in public last weekend at a restaurant in Beijing and during a tennis tournament in the Chinese capital, according to videos released by official media.

"Verifiable evidence"

Last Sunday, she also spoke by videoconference with the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach.

According to the IOC, Peng Shuai explained that she was "safe and sound at her home in Beijing but would like her privacy to be respected."

However, the purely official and civilized nature of her statements as well as of her appearances - the Chinese member of the Olympic Committee Li Lingwei took part in the videoconference with Thomas Bach - were not enough to reassure and the support movement grew. is continued.

IOC President Thomas Bach during a video conference with Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai, November 21, 2021 Greg MARTIN OIS / IOC / AFP / Archives

On Tuesday, Beijing finally reacted officially, an exceptional fact, while the Chinese Foreign Ministry generally refused to comment on this affair, saying that it did not fall within the diplomatic sphere.

But instead of giving news of Peng Shuai, Chinese diplomacy spokesman Zhao Lijian called for "to stop deliberately blaming this issue for hostile ends, and especially making it a political issue."

So the next day, it was the European Union which asked the Chinese authorities for "verifiable evidence" of the player's freedom of movement and a "transparent" investigation into the allegations of sexual abuse.

In the absence of satisfactory answers, the WTA therefore continues to wonder where is Peng Shuai and how is she ...

© 2021 AFP