WTA's China boycott puts heat on 2022 Olympics

2 years ago 472

Pressure is mounting connected the ATP and different large sports authorities to travel the WTA's pb successful suspending each Chinese tournaments amid the disappearance and suppression of Peng Shuai.

The erstwhile expansive slam doubles champion disappeared from nationalist presumption aft raising allegations of intersexual battle against erstwhile vice-premier Zhang Gaoli connected societal media connected November 2. Chinese authorities rapidly removed the post.

The continued defiance of the Chinese authorities has contiguous prompted WTA president and main enforcement Steve Simon to denote successful a connection that each events successful the state would cease.

READ MORE: WTA suspends China events implicit Peng Shuai information concerns

The WTA has suspended each Chinese tournaments owed to the government's refusal to cooperate successful the Peng Shuai case. (AP)

"While we present cognize wherever Peng is, I person superior doubts that she is free, harmless and not taxable to censorship, coercion and intimidation," the WTA connection reads.

The WTA's stance has led to an outpouring of praise from a big of notable figures and calls for the ATP, International Olympic Committee and FIFA to instrumentality the aforesaid action. The spotlight is present shining brightly connected the Winter Olympics, being hosted by Beijing successful February 2022.

Sharing the WTA's connection connected Twitter, erstwhile Soceroos skipper Craig Foster tagged the IOC and FIFA and wrote, "It tin beryllium done".

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Former 18-time large champion Martina Navratilova posted: "This is simply a brave stance by Steve Simon and the WTA wherever we enactment rule supra $ and basal up for women everyplace and peculiarly for Peng Shuai. Now - what accidental you, @IOC ?!? #IOC - truthful acold I tin hardly perceive you!!!".

"I americium beyond arrogant of the WTA for taking this stand," wrote American satellite No.96 Tennys Sandgren.

"Yo men, let's backmost the ladies up huh? We gonna beryllium this 1 retired oregon what?"

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