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“I have by no means spoken or created about any individual sexually assaulting me,” Peng explained to Singapore-based mostly Chinese-language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao on Sunday, in her to start with responses to worldwide media because the explosive allegations arrived to gentle.

When asked if she has been in a position to transfer freely or was concerned about her security, Peng mentioned she has “constantly been no cost” and that she has been residing at her household in Beijing. 

The job interview took position on the sidelines of the Global Ski Federation’s cross-state snowboarding competition in Shanghai on Sunday, wherever Peng was also photographed with Chinese basketball legend Yao Ming, and two former Olympians: sailor Xu Lijia and table tennis participant Wang Liqin.

Peng claimed there was a misunderstanding about the because-deleted social media post on her confirmed account on Weibo, China’s Twitter-like social media platform, which detailed the allegations on November 2.

“First of all, it is really my particular privateness. There probably has been a great deal of misunderstanding. Hence, there need to not be these kinds of distorted interpretation below,” she claimed.

According to screenshots of that article, the two-time Grand Slam doubles champion accused previous Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of pressuring her into owning sexual intercourse at his dwelling a few yrs ago.

The instant response from Chinese authorities was to censor any mention of the accusation on the internet and block Peng’s Weibo account from look for outcomes. Peng disappeared from community perspective for more than two weeks, prompting the world’s greatest tennis stars and the United Nations to demand responses as to her whereabouts — as perfectly as a full investigation into her allegations against Zhang.

Chinese authorities have not acknowledged the sexual assault allegations towards Zhang and dialogue of the matter continues to be censored in China.

Amid growing worldwide outcry, persons performing for Chinese government-managed media and the condition sports technique unveiled a quantity of “evidence of lifetime” photographs and videos of Peng. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) stated it held at minimum two movie phone calls with her, declaring the Chinese tennis star “reconfirmed” she was protected and well.

In Sunday’s interview, Peng expressed her appreciation toward the IOC, stating she feels “incredibly grateful” to the Olympic body and was “incredibly satisfied to have video clip calls with them.”

Peng also said she wrote an email to WTA chairman and CEO Steve Simon recanting the allegations “totally of my personal will.” At the time, Simon questioned the validity of the e-mail and mentioned “we is not going to be comfy right up until we have a opportunity to talk with her.”
Analysis: Beijing is angry at the WTA for pulling out of China. But it can't let Chinese people know about it

A spokesperson for the WTA told CNN on Monday, “it was again great to see Peng Shuai in a general public placing and we surely hope she is undertaking well.

“As we have constantly said, these appearances do not alleviate or deal with the WTA’s sizeable fears about her well-remaining and capacity to connect devoid of censorship or coercion. We continue being steadfast in our connect with for a complete, good and clear investigation, devoid of censorship, into her allegation of sexual assault, which is the challenge that gave increase to our initial concern.”

The incident led to the the WTA asserting an speedy suspension of all tournaments in China, like Hong Kong, on December 1. CEO Simon claimed the selection was primarily based on the “unacceptable” reaction of Chinese officers, including dashing to censor Peng’s allegations and ignoring calls for a total and clear investigation.
The saga will come just a handful of months forward of the 2022 Beijing Wintertime Olympics, an event which various Western nations have stated their diplomats will boycott above China’s human rights report.
China’s Foreign Ministry claimed the federal government hoped “malicious speculation” about Peng’s perfectly-currently being and whereabouts would cease, and that her circumstance must not be politicized. The ministry has also reported Peng’s condition “was not a diplomatic issue.”

CNN has regularly arrived at out for remark to both of those Peng and China’s State Council, which handles press inquires for the central government.

As vice leading, Zhang, 75, served on the party’s seven-particular person Politiburo Standing Committee — the country’s supreme management body — along with President Xi Jinping from 2012 to 2017.



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