This came after a video was posted on a Chinese State Affiliate Media twitter account showing Peng Shuai being interviewed on the sidelines of a skiing event. In that video, Peng denied ever making any allegations of sexual assault against former Chinese vice-premier Zhang Gaoli in Weibo.
“First, I need to stress one point that is extremely important, I have never said or written that anyone has sexually assaulted me,” said Peng.
In reference to her original Weibo post, she also said that people have many misunderstandings about my post. She also added that she has been living unsupervised at her home in Beijing.
Concerns over Pengs well-being came after she disappeared from the public eye after she made the allegations against Zhang in her Weibo account. The post has since been deleted but Peng was not seen in public for over three weeks.
The video showing her interview marks the first time she has appeared and spoken in public.
This, however, has not reassured the WTA. It can be remembered that the WTA announced suspension of their activities in China following concerns over the treatment of Peng.
In a statement, the WTA said, “We remain steadfast in our call for a full, fair and transparent investigation, without censorship, into her allegation of sexual assault, which is the issue that gave rise to our initial concern.
China has not directly commented on Pengs welfare or her post but they have responded to the WTA Suspension with by saying that, “opposes the politicization of sports”.