UN demands investigation into whereabouts of missing Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai

UN demands investigation into whereabouts of missing Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai!

• Former doubles world number one, Peng has represented China in the Beijing, London, and Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
• Peng has not been seen or heard from publicly since she said on Chinese social media on Nov. 2
• She alleged that the former vice-premier Zhang Gaoli coerced her into sex and they later had an on-off consensual relationship.
• The mystery surrounding the tennis champion took a fresh twist on Friday after photos emerged on social media showing her relaxing at home, surrounded by soft toys and with a grey cat.

The United Nations demanded proof of Peng Shuai’s whereabouts and well-being on Friday as international concerns are mounting for the tennis star who has been missing since she alleged that she was sexually exploited by a former vice-premier of China.

Furthermore, the UN insisted on a fully transparent investigation into the claims made by Peng, formerly the world’s top-ranked doubles player, against Communist Party grandee Zhang Gaoli.

“It would be important to have proof of her whereabouts and wellbeing,” Liz Throssell, a spokeswoman for the UN Human Rights Office, told reporters in Geneva. “We are calling for an investigation with full transparency into her allegation of sexual assault.”

Tennis players including Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams, and Novak Djokovic, the world’s top men’s player, have also voiced their support for the Chinese athlete.

Peng, a former Wimbledon doubles champion, hasn’t been seen after writing a social media post on Weibo on Nov. 2 accusing a former top government official of forcing her to have sex after playing tennis at his home.

Peng’s post was quickly deleted from her verified account on Weibo, China’s popular social media platform.

However, screenshots of the accusation were shared widely.

On the other hand, the Global Times editor-in-chief Hu Xijin – from the official newspaper of China’s ruling Communist Party – in a tweet shared that: “In the past few days, she stayed in her own home freely and she didn’t want to be disturbed. She will show up in public and participate in some activities soon.”