State media publishes alleged statement by tennis player Peng Shuai

Hong Kong (CNN) -

China's state media CGTN published an email allegedly from tennis star Peng Shuai stating that she is fine amid growing concern about her whereabouts.

The alleged email, which has not been verified by CNN, also appears to retract Peng's allegations against a former Communist Party leader for sexual abuse.

The email was sent to Steve Simon, president and CEO of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), CGTN reported Wednesday.

Simon said he doubts the authenticity of the email and is concerned about Peng's safety.

"The statement released today by Chinese state media regarding Peng Shuai only increases my concern for his safety and whereabouts," Simon said in a statement.

"I have a hard time believing that Peng Shuai actually wrote the email we received or that he believes what is attributed to him."

He added: "Peng Shuai must be allowed to speak freely, without coercion or intimidation from any source. His accusation of sexual assault must be respected, investigated with full transparency and without censorship."

• Chinese tennis star accuses former Communist Party leader of sexual assault and triggers widespread censorship

Several prominent voices have expressed concern about Peng's whereabouts.

Peng, one of China's most recognizable tennis stars, has not been seen in public since she accused former Deputy Prime Minister Zhang Gaoli of coercing her into having sex at home three years ago, according to screenshots from a post in the US. social networks dated November 2 and that has already been eliminated.

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His post on Weibo, the Chinese Twitter-like platform, was removed within 30 minutes of posting, and Chinese censors were quick to remove any mention of the allegation online.

His Weibo account, which has more than half a million followers, is still blocked from search engines on the platform.

Tennis superstar Naomi Osaka has been one of the last high-level athletes to express her concern for Peng.

"I hope Peng Shuai and her family are safe and well. I am shocked by the current situation and send her love and light," Osaka said as part of a statement on Twitter on Tuesday.

He included the hashtag #WhereIsPengShuai.

Tennis legend and 39-time Grand Slam champion Billie Jean King said on Twitter: "I hope Peng Shuai is safe and that her allegations are fully investigated."

And former world No. 1 Chris Evert said "these allegations are very disturbing."

"I have known Peng since he was 14 years old; we should all be concerned; this is serious; where is he? Is he safe? Any information would be appreciated," he said in a post on Twitter.

An alleged letter from Peng

On Sunday, the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) called on the Chinese government to investigate the allegations, insisting that the highest-ranked former doubles player should be "heard, not censored."

Peng's alleged email recanting the allegations was released by CGTN on Wednesday.

The state media network did not provide any video or other evidence verifying Peng's whereabouts.

He also did not explain how he obtained the letter.

The email reads: "In relation to the recent news published on the official WTA website, the content has not been confirmed or verified by me and was published without my consent. The news that appears in that statement, including the accusation sexual assault, they are not true. I am not missing, nor am I insecure. I have just been resting at home and everything is fine. "

"If the WTA publishes any more news about me, please check it out with me and post it with my consent. As a professional tennis player, I thank you all for your company and consideration. I look forward to promoting Chinese tennis with all of you if I have the opportunity in the future. I hope that Chinese tennis is getting better and better, "he continues.

The ATP Tour, a world-class tennis world tour for men, had said in a statement Monday that it was "encouraged by the recent statements received by the WTA that (Peng) is safe and in good condition and will continue to monitor the situation closely, "but did not elaborate on the veracity of the statements.

"Furthermore, we fully support the WTA's call for a full, fair and transparent investigation into the sexual assault allegations against Peng Shuai," ATP President Andrea Gaudenzi said in the statement.

Politically sensitive scandal

Peng's #MeToo allegations against a former state leader have resonated across China's internet, despite attempts by authorities to erase any mention of such a politically sensitive scandal.

Zhang, 75, served on the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party, the country's supreme governing body, from 2012 to 2017, during the first term of leader Xi Jinping in power.

He retired as deputy prime minister in 2018.

In her post, which reads like an open letter to Zhang, the 35-year-old tennis star claims she was in a relationship for an intermittent period spanning at least 10 years.

"Why did you have to come back to me, did you take me to your house to force me to have sex with you?" He wrote.

Peng said she had no evidence to prove her accusations, and claimed that Zhang was always worried that she would record things.

"I couldn't describe how disgusted I was, and how many times I wondered if I'm still human. I feel like a walking corpse," Peng wrote.

CNN cannot independently verify Peng's post, and has contacted her and the Chinese State Council, which handles central government press inquiries, for comment.

On Wednesday, China evaded media inquiries about Peng's allegations against Zhang.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian suggested to reporters that they contact the "competent department", despite reporters commenting on the lack of response from the Ministry of Public Security.

At a press conference, Zhao was asked about the WTA's concern for Peng's "safety and whereabouts" and whether the government planned to take any action, to which Zhao said the issue "was not an issue. diplomat, "declining to comment further.

The journalists present in the room continued to press the issue, stating that they had contacted the Ministry of Public Security for comment, but had not received a response, leading to questions about which department journalists should contact. for more details.

"Do you think the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is omnipotent?"

Zhao replied.

"You should go ask the competent department," Zhao added, once again avoiding the reporter's question.

- The CNN bureau in Beijing and Mitchell McCluskey in Atlanta contributed to this report.

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