Peng Shuai controversy: A complete timeline of events

The saga of Peng Shuai controversy has refused to die down since the tennis star made an
allegation of sexual harassment against a Chinese politician. The two-time
doubles Grand Slam champion has been at the centre of discussion since
November last year. Now as China hosts the Winter Olympics, the International Olympic
Committee (IOC) has held a face-to-face meeting with her and issued statements, assuring the world that Peng Shuai is safe.

Also Read: International Olympic Committee head meets with tennis player Peng Shuai

Here
is all you need to know about what happened so far.

Peng Shuai made an allegation of sexual assault

On
November 2, 2021, Peng Shuai took to her official Weibo account, a Chinese
equivalent of Twitter, to make an allegation of sexual assault against China’s
former Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli. In it, Peng explained how Zhang Gaoli had
forced her to have sex with him, the first time being over seven years ago.

Also Read: Beijing 2022: China stiffens stance amid allegations of human rights abuse

She
further alleged that she continued to be a victim of sexual assault till 2018. Peng
hoped that Zhang would divorce his wife and marry her instead. When Zhang told
her that it was impossible to do so because of the political consequences it
would have for him, Peng decided to make their affair public.

For
her part, Peng never could produce any evidence of that alleged relationship.

“Yes,
I did not have any evidence, and it was simply impossible to have
evidence,” Peng Shuai wrote on Weibo. “I couldn’t describe how
disgusted I was, and how many times I asked myself am I still a human?”
she added.

Also Read: Australian Open allows fans to wear ‘Where is Peng Shuai?’ shirts

Within
half an hour, the post was removed from Weibo, a state-controlled social media
platform, although screenshots had already begun to be circulated. Since then
Peng Shuai had gone missing and maintained silence.

WTA
upped its ante against China

After
making the allegation Peng Shuai went silent for at least 12 days, so Florida
based Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) demanded an independent investigation
into her allegation.

“We
expect this issue to be handled properly, meaning the allegations must be
investigated fully, fairly, transparently and without censorship,” said
Steve Simon, the WTA chief.

Also Read: Tennis star Martina Navratilova criticises ban on ‘Where is Peng Shuai’ t-shirts

ATP
also issued a similar statement along with star players, including Novak
Djokovic, Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams, Roger Federer and former legends like
Billie Jean King who took to social media with the “WhereIsPengShuai”
hashtag.

Peng
Shuai’s email and WTA’s disapproval

On
17 November last year, Peng Shuai allegedly wrote an email to the WTA, saying
that she was safe and her allegation of sexual harassment against Zhang Gaoli
was not true and denied the fact that she had gone missing.

Also Read: Australian Open 2022: Alize Cornet still worried about Peng Shuai

Peng
Shuai, surprisingly, attacked the WTA, alleging that they were involved in the
controversy without consulting her first and asked them to consult her before
making any future statements about her.

“If
the WTA publishes any more news about me, please verify it with me, and release
it with my consent,” Peng Shuai wrote.

Also Read: Chinese Tennis star Peng Shuai denies making sexual assault accusations

Soon
after the email content was released to the media, Steve Simon expressed his
doubts about the veracity of the mail.

“The
WTA and the rest of the world need independent and verifiable proof that she is
safe. I have repeatedly tried to reach her via numerous forms of communication,
to no avail,” Simon said.

Also Read: IOC hit with Peng Shuai questions amid boycott

WTA
not happy with video evidence

On
November 19, after Amnesty International and the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern about her safety, the Chinese
government released video evidence of a safe Peng Shuai.

Journalist
Hu Xijin shared videos of Peng at a restaurant through Twitter, and then later
at a kids’ tennis tournament in China. But that alone was not enough for the
WTA.

Also Read: Don’t want to punish 1.4 billion people: Tennis body won’t boycott China over Peng Shuai

In
their third statement, released on November 20, the WTA stated that the video
alone was not proof that Shuai was acting of her own accord. Furthermore, they
restated that the allegations still needed to be dealt with fairly.

“As
I have stated from the beginning, I remain concerned about Peng Shuai’s health
and safety and that the allegation of sexual assault is being censored and
swept under the rug,” Steve Simon said.

Also Read: ATP faces backlash for being soft on China in Peng Shuai controversy

It
was then that the WTA levied a warning to China, stating that their
relationship was strained and that not looking into their concerns would have
dire results.

“I
have been clear about what needs to happen and our relationship with China is
at a crossroads,” Simon added.

Also Read: WTA’s unique stance of no tournaments in China could cost millions

IOC held a virtual meeting with Peng Shuai                                        

On
November 21, the IOC released a statement of
their own, saying that they had spoken to Peng Shuai herself through a video
call.

However,
they did not share a recording of the video call and the statement contained
just a solitary photo of Peng Shuai on the screen. But the IOC assured the
world that she was safe and happy and that she wanted her privacy respected.

Also Read: Peng Shuai case: IOC says it held second video call with Tennis star

This
approach of the IOC to the controversy drew it wide-spread criticism from
around the world, with many calling the IOC’s assurances hollow and accusing
them of not looking into the core issues of the matter.

WTA
issued warning

On
December 3, the WTA released their final and most important statement regarding
this issue. Once more, they reiterated how their demands for investigation were
being ignored and that it made them scared for the safety of their athlete.

Also Read: Peng Shuai case: Chinses fans dodge online censors to discuss tennis star

“Unfortunately,
the leadership in China has not addressed this very serious issue in any
credible way,” Steve Simon said.”

Thus,
the WTA decided to suspend all tournaments in China (including Hong Kong)
effective immediately, even if it would mean leaving behind tennis communities
in the country.

Also Read: WTA suspends tournaments in China over Peng Shuai concerns

“As
a result, and with the full support of the WTA Board of Directors, I am
announcing the immediate suspension of all WTA tournaments in China, including
Hong Kong,” he added.”

IOC
held second video call, and ATP and ITF changed stance

Around
the same time, the IOC announced that they had a second video call with Peng
Shuai, but yet again refused to release the video or even pictures. They simply
reconfirmed that she was safe and that they were monitoring the issue.

Also Read: Still remain deeply concerned about Peng Shuai: Women’s Tennis Association

The
ITF and ATP changed it stance and did not follow the WTA in pulling its events
out of china. The ATP stated that it believed having a global presence was
beneficial for the sport and the ITF stated that it did not want to punish a
billion people by following in the footsteps of the WTA.

Chinese
Tennis Association condemned WTA

Naturally,
the WTA’s decision was condemned by the Chinese Tennis Association (CTA) who
felt that they were acting against the best interests of other players in China
and Peng Shui herself.

Also Read: It’s not just Peng Shuai, China is cracking down on MeToo movement

The
CTA also said they would be looking into the legal side of the WTA pulling out
of China, and that they have a right to protect their interests subject to the
letter of the law.

That
brings to an end everything that has occurred so far. As of now, the WTA will hold
no events in China until the country decides to look into the allegations made
by Peng Shuai. As of now, Peng Shuai is safe but only time will tell whether
she is safe and free.

Also Read: Peng Shuai videos don’t quash safety concerns: WTA

IOC
President has held a face-to-face meeting with Peng Shuai

On
February 7, 2022, as China hosts the Winter Olympics, the IOC President Thomas
Bach has held a face-to-face meeting with Peng Shuai, as announced last
November. He was joined by the former Chair of the Athletes’ Commission and IOC
member Kirsty Coventry. The meeting took place on Saturday over dinner at the
Olympic Club in Beijing.

Peng
Shuai informed the President that she would attend several events at the
Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 over the coming days. Later that evening, she
and Kirsty Coventry attended the mixed curling match between China and Norway.

Also Read: Missing China tennis star Peng Shuai said she is safe during video call: IOC

“First
of all, I would like to thank all the ATP and WTA players, all the
athletes and all the personalities in large numbers who cared about me,” Peng
said in the L’Equipe interview, at which she was accompanied by Wang Kan, chief
of staff of the Chinese Olympic Committee. “But I didn’t think there would be
such concern and I would like to know: why such concern?”