London: The Women’s Tennis Association has declared that all tournaments in China would be suspended immediately due to concerns about Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai. “I am announcing the immediate suspension of all WTA tournaments in China, including Hong Kong,” Simon said in a statement.
WTA chief Steve Simon added he had “serious doubts” that Peng was “free, safe and not subject to intimidation”.
“In good conscience, I don’t see how I can ask our athletes to compete there,” he said.
The WTA has repeatedly called for a full investigation into Peng’s claims. Upon accusing a prominent Chinese official of sexual assault, Peng, 35, disappeared from public view for three weeks.
She said she was “safe and well” during a video call with Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee, in November. However, the WTA said the video was “insufficient evidence” of Peng’s safety.
Simon said he was “greatly concerned” about the risks players and staff could face if events were held in China in 2022.
“The leadership in China has not addressed this very serious issue in any credible way,” he said.“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,” Simon added.
"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."
— wta (@WTA) December 1, 2021
Billie Jean King, the former world number one and creator of the WTA, applauded the organisation for taking a strong stance. “This is another reason why women’s tennis is the leader in women’s sports,” King wrote on Twitter.
“The WTA is on the right side of history in supporting our players,” concluded Billie Jean King.
Petra Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon winner, and Shelby Rogers, a quarterfinalist at the US Open, were among the players who tweeted their support for the WTA’s decision.
Julian Knight, the chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, expressed his approval of the stance, saying, “If only other sports showed this solidarity and moral clarity.”
