WTA suspends tennis tournaments in China following Peng Shuai controversy

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has decided to cancel all tennis tournaments in China and Hong Kong as they are unsatisfied with the transparency the Chinese government has shown with the Peng Shuai sexual assault allegations. 

WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon, in a statement, has condemned China and its treatment of Shuai. He believes that the country has censored and intimidated the 35-year-old tennis star after she leveled sexual assault allegations against a top government official. 

“If powerful people can suppress the voices of women and sweep allegations of sexual assault under the rug, then the basis on which the WTA was founded—equality for women—would suffer an immense setback. I will not and cannot let that happen to the WTA and its players. 

“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. In good conscience, I don’t see how I can ask our athletes to compete there when Peng Shuai is not allowed to communicate freely and has seemingly been pressured to contradict her allegation of sexual assault,” said Simon.

The WTA CEO is unsure about the safety of players and staff if they travel to China at the present moment and have decided to pull out all tournaments from the country. He has promised to protect his players and encouraged them to speak out. 

Simon revealed that the WTA will return to China only if the country’s government addresses the issues that they have laid out before them. 

Shuai, who was ranked as high as No. 14 in the women’s singles rankings earlier this year, alleged that ex-Chinese vice-premier Zhang Gaoli had sexually assaulted and coerced her to have sex with him. Her allegations on a Chinese social media platform were quickly removed, while Chinese media pushed propaganda out to show that Shuai was in good spirits and the allegations she made weren’t true. 

The Chinese tennis star also spoke to top officials in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) via video, where she reportedly said that she was safe and well, but wanted to keep her privacy. 

The IOC has been criticized by various human rights organizations for not condemning China’s coercion and lack of transparency, and is seen as a way to show China in a good light ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics. The organization has been steadfast in its belief that the Chinese tennis star is safe, which many – including the WTA – feel is untrue.