Peng Shuai Returns – But Is She Free?

In a previous post, we discussed the events which led to the sports community's use of the hashtag #WhereIsPengShuai.  To quickly recap, on November 2, 2021, Peng Shuai released a statement on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, which detailed allegations of sexual assault against former Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli, who was the face of the organizing effort for the recent Beijing Olympics. Immediately following the publication of Peng's statement, the post was removed from the internet, Peng's name was censored across Chinese media outlets and Peng disappeared from the public eye. In response to the uncertainties surrounding Peng's safety and freedom, the Women's Tennis Association ("WTA") suspended all tournaments in China on December 1, 2021.