JAKARTA - The head of the professional tennis association for women's athletes, Women's Tennis Association, voiced concern over an email she received in which tennis player Peng Shuai was said to have denied previous allegations of sexual harassment.
Peng, one of China's biggest sports stars, revealed on social media earlier this month that China's former vice-premier, Zhang Gaoli, forced her to have sex and that they later had a consensual relationship.
Her post was deleted roughly half an hour later and she has not been seen publicly or made a statement since, much to the concern of the global tennis community.
On Twitter Wednesday, Chinese state-affiliated media outlet CGTN released an email it said was an email Peng sent to WTA Chairman Steve Simon, who is also the association's CEO, in which he said the assault allegations were untrue.
"The statements released today by Chinese state media about Peng Shuai only raise my concerns about her safety and whereabouts", Simon said in a written statement.
"I find it hard to believe that Peng Shuai actually wrote the email we received or believe what was linked to her."
China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment sent outside business hours.
The email CGTN attributed to Peng said: "I am neither lost nor unsafe. I am resting at home and all is well".
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According to a Reuters report, apart from CGTN and the state-owned English-language television media CCTV, no other Chinese media, as of Thursday morning, had reported the email.
The Women's Tennis Association and Men's Professional Tennis previously called on China to investigate Peng's allegations.
"The Women's Tennis Association and the rest of the world need independent and verifiable evidence that he is safe", Simon said.
"I have repeatedly tried to contact him through various forms of communication, but to no avail".
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