The ATP supports the WTA’s request for sexual violence against Peng Shui

On Monday, the men’s tennis governing body (ATP) supported a call by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) to China to investigate allegations of sexual violence against Peng Shuai, the former Chinese prime minister.

The WTA had urged China to investigate Peng’s allegations on Sunday, while demanding an end to censorship of the former top player.

Peng, one of China’s biggest sports stars, claimed in his Weibo social media account on Nov. 2 that Zhang Gaoli, a former member of the Politburo Standing Committee – China’s top decision-making body – forced him into sex and they later had an on-off consensus.

READ: WTA calls for investigation into Peng’s sexual violence

Peng, 35, said in a message that was removed about half an hour after its publication that he was unable to provide evidence to support his allegations.

“There is nothing more important to us than the safety of our tennis community,” ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said in a statement Monday.

“We have been deeply concerned about the uncertainty surrounding the immediate security and whereabouts of WTA player Peng Shui.

“We are encouraged by the recent assurances from the WTA that he is safe and that he is on account and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

“Separately, we fully support the WTA’s call for a full, fair and transparent investigation into Peng Shuai’s sexual violence.”

China’s internet is heavily censored, and the privacy of top executives is a particularly sensitive issue. Zhang, now 75, was Deputy Prime Minister from 2013 to 2018 and served on the Politburo Standing Committee from 2012 to 2017.

Concerns from the global tennis community have grown as Peng, who was the first Chinese player to top the world list when he was number one in doubles in 2014, has not been seen since the release.

“Recent events in China involving WTA player Peng Shua are deeply worrying,” WTA chairman and CEO Steve Simon said in a statement to the governing body on Sunday. “Peng Shuai and all women deserve to be heard, not censored.

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“His accusation of sexual abuse by a former Chinese leader must be taken extremely seriously.”

The China Government Information Office and the Chinese Tennis Association did not immediately respond to requests for comments on the WTA’s statement.

The International Tennis Federation also did not respond immediately to requests for comments.

Simon said the New York times on Sunday that no one on the Tour has spoken directly to Peng, but that he had received assurances from the Chinese Tennis Association that he was safe “and not under any physical threat.”