The International Olympic Committee has held a second video call with former world doubles No. 1 Peng Shuai amid concerns about the Chinese tennis player's wellbeing.
After first talking to the player on November 21, the IOC says it held the call on Wednesday evening Swiss time, just before the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) announced an immediate suspension of all tournaments in China over concerns about the player's wellbeing.
"We share the same concern as many other people and organisations about the wellbeing and safety of Peng Shuai," says the IOC. "This is why, just yesterday, an IOC team held another video call with her.
"We have offered her wide-ranging support, will stay in regular touch with her and have already agreed on a personal meeting in January," it says, adding Peng appeared to be "safe and well given the difficult situation she is in".
Beijing is hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics in February.
China has responded pointedly to the WTA's move to suspend its tournaments, with foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin saying China "opposes the politicisation of sports".
In an editorial, the Global Times newspaper, published by the ruling Communist Party's People's Daily, says the WTA is betraying the Olympic spirit and bringing politics into tennis.
"Some forces in the West are instigating a boycott against the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics," it adds, referring to the February event that some civil rights groups want boycotted over China's human rights record.
The whereabouts of Peng, a three-time Olympian, caused international concern after she posted a message on social media in early November, alleging that China's former Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli had sexually assaulted her. She was not seen for three weeks after the quickly deleted message.
Neither Zhang, who retired in 2018, nor the Chinese Government have commented on Peng's allegation, and the topic has been blocked from direct discussion on China's heavily censored internet.
The decision by the US-based WTA to walk away from one of its biggest markets was applauded by many leading figures in the tennis world, though it could cost it hundreds of millions of dollars in broadcasting and sponsorship revenue.
Reuters/Newshub
