Peng Shuai Emerges at Olympics, Gives Controlled Interview
SnopesSep 09, 2021
A Chinese diplomat has sparked further outrage by arguing that Peng Shuai is unlikely to have been sexually assaulted due to her physical strength.
Shuai denied disappearing last year after making claims of assault against a top Chinese official via social media.
Her comments were made under tightly controlled conditions. Shuai is likely under immense pressure from the Chinese authorities, and has deliberately avoided commenting on their potential coercion throughout this controversy.
The protests over and attention given to unsubstantiated information is only hurting Shuai herself and will harm her ability to compete fairly. The WTA's boycott of China is entirely unjustified.