Beijing: Star Tennis China Peng Shuai said he had never accused anyone from sexual violence, according to an interview published on Monday, again walked back on charges that triggered his awareness throughout the world.
Former Double World number one suspected in social media posts in November that former Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli forced him in sex for years.
The post was quickly removed and heard from almost three weeks.
Since then he has appeared in several public events, denying in December he had made allegations.
“I have never said that something sexually attacked me in any way,” said the Peng told the French daily Daily L’Equipe, repeating similar comments he gave to the Singapore newspaper in December.
The 36-year-old player added that he was the person who removed his accusation from Weibo, a platform like Chinese Twitter.
Allegedly that the strict internet sensor of the country, sensitive about criticism of the ruling communist party, has removed it.
When L’Equipe asked him why he removed it, the peng said: “Because I want.” “There is a big misconception in the outside world after this post,” he said during the interview in the Beijing winter Olympic bubble.
“I don’t want the meaning of this post to be twisted again.
And I don’t want further media hype around it.” Some of the largest tennis stars in the world, including Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka and Novak Djokovic, talked about Peng cases.
The United Nations and the White House also expressed concern.
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) suspended its tournament in China for this issue.
When asked about the absence of worries triggered, Peng said he was “never lost”.
“It’s just that many people, like friends or people from the IOC sent me a message, and it’s impossible to answer so many messages.” Peng was accompanied by the Chief of Staff of the Chinese Olympic Committee Wang Kan during the interview.
Concerns have spinned about the safety of Peng even though his appearance follows a three-week absence, which shows him attending a sporting event.
After he denied making allegations of sexual violence in December, WTA said it was still not convincing his welfare.
In Australia opened last month, activists distributed 1,000 “where did Shuai Peng?” Shirt to the audience in front of the women’s final to highlight this case.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) of President Thomas Bach held a video conference with Peng on November 21, but it led to allegations that he tried to protect the host 2022 Winter Games.
Bach said before the match that IOC would support the investigation into his accusation if he wanted it, said he would hold a meeting with the Peng to “better know about his physical integrity and his mental state”.
Bach, along with members of IOC Kirsty Coventry, met Peng for dinner at the Olympic Club in Beijing on Saturday, the body said in a statement.
“We have dinner together on Saturdays and we have good discussions and exchanges,” said Peng said L’Fiipe, also announced his retirement from tennis in an interview.
“He asked me if I was considering competing again, what my project was, what I planned to do, and so on.” The IOC said the peng shared with Bach and Coventry “his intention to travel to Europe with Covid-19 pandemic is over”.
“The three agreed that more communication about the content of the meeting will be handed over to his wisdom,” added the IOC statement.
‘Great misunderstanding’: Peng Shuai repeats sexual assault
