WTA Cancels China Tennis After Disappearance Of Peng Shuai
- Tennis Player Peng Shuai disappeared after attempting to expose the sexual assault of prominent Chinese official, Zhang Gaoli.
- The Women's Tennis Association just cancelled all China and Hong Kong Tennis tournaments in protest of her disappearance
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) just suspended all tennis tournaments in China and Hong Kong after the disappearance of tennis player Peng Shuai.
After prominent tennis player Peng Shuai took to social media to accuse former Chinese politician Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault, Shuai suddenly went missing. After Shuai's accusations went viral, the post was swiftly edited to say that the sex was consensual, and then the post was outright deleted.
A few days after the post was cleansed, Shuai was reported missing. The WTA took notice of the situation, and has since totally cancelled all tournaments scheduled to take place in China or Hong Kong. This also cancels any potential gambling on these matches.
WTA Cancels China/Hong Kong Tournaments
In the announcement that the WTA would be cancelling all scheduled China and Hong Kong tennis tournaments, CEO Steve Simon had this to say.
"None of this is acceptable nor can it become acceptable. If powerful people can suppress the voices of women and sweep allegations of sexual assault under the rug, then the basis on which the WTA was founded – equality for women – would suffer an immense setback. I will not and cannot let that happen to the WTA and its players," said Simon.
Although Shuai's safety and location has been confirmed by Chinese officials, the integrity of the one's providing the confirmation has been called into question.
It certainly hasn't been enough to convince Steve Simon in any case.
"Unfortunately, the leadership in China has not addressed this very serious issue in any credible way. While we now know where Peng is, I have serious doubts that she is free, safe and not subject to censorship, coercion and intimidation."
China is already being protested with threats to boycott the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, making this another serious sporting boycott this year.
How Chinese officials will respond to this, and how it will affect future tennis tournaments remains to be seen.