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International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach announced plans Thursday to meet with Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai amid heightened concern for her safety, adding that the IOC will "support" an inquiry to allegations of sexual assualt if she decides to pursue one.
Bach told reporters during a news conference ahead of the Beijing Olympics this week that he plans to meet with Peng in the "closed loop," the bubble that separates accredited personnel from the Chinese public, to confirm her safety.
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"She will enter the closed loop in order to have this meeting because she wanted this," Bach said, via Reuters. "Once all procedures have finished then we will have our meeting."
Shuai Peng of China celebrates a shot during the match against Lin Zhu of China on Day 2 of 2020 WTA Shenzhen Open at Shenzhen Longgang Sports Center on Jan. 6, 2020, in Shenzhen, China. (Zhong Zhi/Getty Images)
Peng, 35, made headlines in November when she wrote a lengthy post on Chinese social media platform Weibo that alleged former vice-premier Zhang Gaoli forced her to have sex despite repeated refusals following a round of tennis three years ago. She briefly disappeared from the public for two weeks after making the initial post but later emerged to deny saying she was sexually assaulted.
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Bach is among the few people outside China to have spoken with Peng in the past three months in calls by video link with IOC staff, but those calls were met with criticism by frustrated tennis leaders and human rights activists who wanted footage or transcripts that could verify Peng’s well-being. They claimed the IOC was covering up for the Olympic host nation.
Shuai Peng of China reacts in her first round match against Eugenie Bouchard of Canada during day two of the 2019 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Jan. 15, 2019, in Melbourne, Australia. (Fred Lee/Getty Images)
"We know from her explanations ... that she is living in Beijing, that she can move freely, spending time with family and friends," Bach clarified Thursday. "Now we will be able to do the next step in a personal meeting to convince us in person of her well-being and state of mind."
Bach said the IOC would support a probe into Peng’s accusations but only at her request.
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Peng Shuai of China returns a ball during the semifinal match against Shahar Peer of Israel, unseen, in the Guangzhou WTA Tour in Guangzhou in south China's Guangdong province Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. (AP Photo, File)
"If she wants to have an inquiry we would also support her in this. But it's her life, it's her allegations," he said. "We will know more about her physical integrity and mental state when we meet her in person."
The most recent call between Peng and IOC staff was held this week, Bach said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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