Olympics chief to meet with Peng Shuai

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said he plans to meet with Chinese tennis champion Peng Shaui while attending the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Bach confirmed his upcoming meeting with Peng, saying that he’s very grateful for her, The New York Times reported.

Peng, a former doubles champion, was reported missing after writing a now-deleted social media post last month accusing Zhang Gaoli, a former member of the Chinese Communist Party’s powerful Politburo Standing Committee, of forcing her to have sex with him despite repeated refusals following a round of tennis. 

Peng’s whereabouts led tennis stars from Serena Williams, Noami Osaka, Bille Jean King, and Novak Djokovic to use their platforms to express their concern. 

When asked this week about his plans for an investigation into Peng’s claims of sexual assault, Bach said he would reach out to Peng about whether she wanted the inquiry, according to the Times. 

“It must be her decision,” he said. “It’s her life. It’s her allegations.”

An IOC spokesperson added that there is no timetable for Bach’s meeting with Peng, the Times reported. 

The IOC in recent months held two video call meetings with Peng, who later denied she was ever sexually assaulted by Zhang. 

The WTA suspended its tournaments in China in December until an investigation is launched into the recent sexual assault allegations made by Peng.