Athletes Germany on the Peng case: "IOC must show its colors"
The association Athleten Deutschland has accused the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of having wrong priorities for dealing with the case of the Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai, who has since disappeared.
by SID
last edit: Dec 06, 2021, 02:28 pm
"The apparently deliberate factoring out of Peng Shuai's three-week disappearance and the abuse allegations she made in his two statements gives rise to fears that the IOC attaches greater importance to political and economic interests than the protection of athletes," said a statement on Monday.
The Peng Shuai case confirms a "recurring pattern of behavior when dealing with athletes whose fundamental rights are violated and who are affected by violence, discrimination, persecution or repression," continued Athleten Deutschland: "The IOC evades, hesitates or shows responsibility of yourself. "
Maximilian Klein, responsible for international sports policy at Athleten Deutschland, explained: "The world's most powerful organization in sport must make it unmistakably clear that the protection of athletes, and not the protection of economic and political interests, has top priority. The IOC must now Show your colors, fulfill your human rights responsibility and finally act in harmony with your ideals. "
The athletes further criticized: "The IOC evades, hesitates or rejects responsibility." For them, Bach's "quiet diplomacy" is an excuse to protect political and economic interests.
IOC: Criticism from athletes' representatives and human rights organizations
Peng (35) reported in early November on the Twitter-like medium Weibo that he had been sexually abused by the former Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Zhang Gaoli. The entry was deleted as well as numerous Internet entries about Peng. Although she has now spoken up again after her disappearance, doubts remain about her well-being and the freedom of her statements.
The IOC said it had another video conversation with Peng Shuai last Wednesday. The first happened on November 21st. In neither press release was a word about the allegations expressed by Peng, which is why the IOC had to put up with harsh criticism from athletes' representatives and human rights organizations for not wanting to help clarify the situation. China, with its capital Beijing, will host the Winter Olympics, which will begin in less than two months (February 4 to 20, 2022).
The WTA had acted much more rigidly in the previous week. The players' organization suspended all tennis tournaments in China and Hong Kong with immediate effect. WTA boss Steve Simon continues to assume that Peng Shuai "is not allowed to speak freely and has apparently been pressured to withdraw her allegation of sexual assault," it said.