(Paris) The ATP, which manages the men’s professional tennis circuit, said Monday to follow “closely” the situation of the Chinese player Peng Shuai who would have disappeared for ten days after accusing a former senior communist leader of rape. from the country.
“We were deeply concerned about the uncertainties regarding the immediate safety and whereabouts of WTA player Peng Shuai. We were relieved by the recent assurances received by the WTA that it was safe, and we will continue to monitor the situation closely, ”ATP President Andrea Gaudenzi said in a statement.
“We also strongly support the WTA’s call for a thorough, fair and transparent investigation into the allegations of sexual violence against Peng Shuai,” Gaudenzi concludes.
The old no World doubles champion, 35, accused on social media of former deputy prime minister Zhang Gaoli, who was one of China’s most powerful politicians from 2013 to 2018, of coercing her to have sex before making her his mistress.
This explosive accusation was briefly published on November 2 on the official Weibo account (a Chinese equivalent of Twitter) of the player, notably victorious in doubles at Roland Garros in 2014.
As of November 4, China had blocked all reference to this message attributed to Peng Shuai, but which AFP was unable to confirm if it had been written by the player herself, his entourage is refusing to comment.
While censorship quickly wiped the message off the Chinese internet, screenshots spread like wildfire.
Since then, the player has not communicated or made a public appearance and Zhang Gaoli has never publicly reacted to her accusations.