Peng Shuai: WTA says concerns remain for Chinese tennis star after IOC call

Greg Martin is the image source.

The image caption is.

The IOC President spoke to Ms Peng on Sunday.

The Women's Tennis Association said that a call between the president of the International Olympic Committee and a Chinese player did not address its concerns.

The IOC said after the call that Peng appeared to be okay.

After making sexual assault allegations against a senior Chinese minister, Peng disappeared from the public eye for almost three weeks.

Her absence caused international concern.

China was urged to provide proof that she was safe.

The Chinese state media released a series of photographs and videos that appeared to show that the tennis star was fine.

The IOC released a statement on Sunday after the president of the IOC held a video call with an Olympian.

The IOC account said that Peng had thanked them for their concern.

She explained that she is safe and well, but would like to have her privacy respected at this time.

She prefers to spend her time with her friends and family. She will continue to play tennis.

An image of the video call was included in the IOC statement.

The recent videos don't address the concerns of the WTA about her wellbeing and ability to communicate without being coerced, the organization said.

The caption is media.

The chairman is worried about the safety of the person.

The issue that gave rise to our initial concern was her allegation of sexual assault, and this video does not change that.

Global Athlete accused the IOC of displaying an "abject indifference to sexual violence and the well-being of female athletes" when it criticized the IOC's approach to Peng's disappearance.

The release says that Peng has not been missing for more than two weeks. The IOC is complicit in the Chinese authority's lack of care for basic human rights and justice because of the statements.

A group of Chinese feminists staged a rally in New York on Sunday in support of Peng Shuai.

Crystal Chen told the BBC that while the videos and photos appear to show Peng "physically unharmed", she was not truly free.

Ms Chen, who has chosen not to be identified by her real name, alleges that she can't say what she wants to say in a safe condition.

The participants of the rally called for the sexual assault allegations against Peng to be addressed.

The former number one-ranked tennis doubles player made an allegation about the former Vice Prime Minister on a Chinese social media site.

She said she was forced into sex with him. The post was taken down.

It is the first time that a claim has been made against a senior political leader in China.