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Peng, one in all China’s most recognizable sports activities stars, publicly accused a former high Communist Party official, Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, of forcing him to have intercourse at his dwelling three years in the past, on November 2. Was in a deleted social media publish.
Peng was instantly suppressed by censorship and disappeared from public view for greater than two weeks.
The IOC says it has made two calls with Peng.
According to the Olympic Organisation, its president Thomas Bach held a 30-minute video name on November 21 with three-time Olympian Peng, together with a Chinese sports activities official and an extra IOC consultant.
On Wednesday, the IOC held a second name with Peng and mentioned the Chinese tennis star had “confirmed” that she was protected and properly in a “difficult situation”.
“The purpose remains the same: either to attack that person – or himself – or to counter international criticism.”
The IOC was not instantly accessible for remark when requested by CNN about Dahlin’s open letter.
IOC defends itself
The IOC instructed CNN it was not offering any visible belongings of Wednesday’s second video name with Peng, amid rising doubts about how freely he was allowed to speak, in addition to his There can be concern for safety.
Longtime IOC member Dick Pound just lately instructed CNN’s Christian Amanpour that he was “shocked” by the response to the video name between Peng and Bach in November.
“Basically, a lot of people around the world were looking to see what happened to Peng Shuai and no one was able to establish contact,” he mentioned.
“Only the IOC was in a position to try this, and there have been conversations by video with Thomas Bach, who’s an older Olympian, and two youthful feminine IOC members. Nobody launched the video as a result of I believe that side of it. was personal.
“They found him in good health and in good spirits and they didn’t see imprisonment or anything like that.”
Pound mentioned he had not seen the recording of the video name, however was “relying only on the joint decision of the three IOC members who were on the call.”
WTA takes a troublesome stand
“Peng is not free. You know – or should know – that he is not free,” Dahlin mentioned.
“In every development of international criticism, like clockwork, Peng has either magically appeared or someone has provided something claiming to be from him to counter such criticism.”
Dahlin accused the IOC of permitting itself for use by the Chinese authorities and as a substitute urged within the footsteps of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), which in response to Beijing referred to as for a right away suspension of all tournaments in China, together with Hong Kong. declare. To quell allegations of sexual harassment.
On Thursday, a WTA spokeswoman instructed CNN she had obtained a brand new e-mail from Peng.
According to the WTA, that is the third e-mail from Peng.
Citing a “confirmed source” in a Twitter publish on Thursday, Chinese state media reporter Shen Shiwei mentioned Shuai’s e-mail “expressed his shock for the WTA’s unfair decision to postpone all tournaments in China”. “
Responding to this latest email, a WTA spokeswoman said that the organization stands by its decision to postpone the tournament in China.
The IOC mentioned in a press release on Thursday that it was assured of its strategy and dealing with of the scenario.
“We are utilizing “quiet diplomacy”, which given the circumstances and based mostly on the expertise of governments and different organizations, is essentially the most promising technique to proceed successfully in such humanitarian issues,” the statement said. “
However, Dahlin has urged the IOC to alter its stance, saying that “quiet diplomacy may have its place, but it is not here.”
He continued: “And you yourself clearly don’t believe it, because if you did, why are you escalating these video calls with Peng – especially since you refuse to release them. Is someone telling you that you can’t release them?
“At least educate your self on the problem of compelled disappearances and stage-managed confessions and appearances.”
Chinese officials have not accepted Peng’s allegations against Zhang and there is no indication that an investigation is underway.
Zhang has kept a low profile and has faded from public life since his retirement in 2018 and there is no public information regarding his current whereabouts.
Before retiring as Vice Premier, Zhang was the head of a Chinese government working group for the Beijing Games. In the role, he inspected venues, visited athletes, unveiled official emblems and held meetings to coordinate preparatory work.
Zhang has previously met IOC President Bach at least once, the two were photographed shaking hands together in the Chinese capital in 2016.
It is not clear whether Peng has reported his allegations to the police.
And at a news conference on Thursday, responding to a question about the WTA’s withdrawal, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry said, “China has at all times strongly opposed any act that politicizes the game.”
CNN’s Amy Woodyatt, Steve George and Nectar Gan contributed reporting.
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