And Bach has acknowledged the situation is “fragile.” Above, China's Peng Shuai reacts during her first round singles match against Japan's Nao Hibino at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, on January 21, 2020. IOC President Thomas Bach can't escape repeated questions about Peng and suspicions around two video calls the IOC has had with her. Teng Biao, a human rights lawyer, said it's clear that Peng is not safe or able to speak freely.
Others aren't so convinced of her well-being. And this, as you can appreciate, is not easy in a video call." "And in such a fragile situation (that) Peng Shuai is in, you have to make all the efforts to build trust. "You have to respect this human being," Bach said Wednesday. However, the IOC has not provided any transcripts or video recordings of what was talked about between them during the interactions. "Why don't you respect Peng Shuai in this and let her decide where her priorities are," Bach said. The first was on November 21 and then again more recently at the beginning of December. The IOC said they've now spoken to her two times.
The president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach asked for Peng Shuai's wish for privacy to be respected after two video calls the IOC had with her raised more suspicion about her well-being.Ĭoncerns for Shuai's safety arose after the three-time olympian vanished from the public eye when she accused former vice premier Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault in a social media post nearly six weeks ago.