LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai has taken part in a 30-minute video call from Beijing with IOC officials and told them she was safe and well, the Olympic body said on Sunday.
The call came amid growing global alarm over Peng. Her appearance at a youth tennis event Sunday in Beijing and social media posts on her behalf did not fully convince people outside China that she has freedom to act after she alleged a sexual assault against a former leading Communist Party official.
The call — with IOC president Thomas Bach, athletes commission chair Emma Terho and IOC member Li Lingwei, a former vice president of the Chinese Tennis Association — appears to be Peng’s first direct contact with sports officials outside China since she disappeared from public view on Nov. 2.
Peng “thanked the IOC for its concern about her well-being,” the Switzerland-based Olympic body said in a statement. “She explained that she is safe and well, living at her home in Beijing, but would like to have her privacy respected at this time. That is why she prefers to spend her time with friends and family right now.”
AP Photo/Andy Brownbill
China's Peng Shuai is shown during the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 21, 2020.
Peng, who played for China at three Olympics from 2008 to 2016, made a sexual assault allegation on social media three weeks ago against a former member of the Communist Party’s ruling Standing Committee, Zhang Gaoli.
The post was removed within minutes and the former top-ranked doubles player went missing from public view. She did not respond publicly to calls for information to show she was safe.
The International Olympic Committee has been criticized for being relatively silent in public as concern for Peng grew in the past week. It has pursued a “quiet diplomacy” policy with the 2022 Olympics host nation. The Beijing Winter Games open on Feb. 4.
Bach has now invited Peng to join him at a dinner when he arrives in Beijing in January “which she gladly accepted,” the IOC said. Terho and Li were also invited.
“I was relieved to see that Peng Shuai was doing fine, which was our main concern,” Terho said in the IOC statement. The hockey player from Finland represents athletes on the IOC executive board.
“She appeared to be relaxed,” Terho said. “I offered her our support and to stay in touch at any time of her convenience, which she obviously appreciated.”
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Tennis player who’s been missing from view tells Olympic officials she’s safe
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1971 — The New York Rangers score eight goals in the third period of a 12-1 rout over the California Seals.
In this Nov. 21, 1971, file photo, the New York Rangers' Jean Ratelle is all smiles as he holds four pucks in the team's Madison Square Garden dressing room after scoring four goals in the Rangers' 12-1 win over the California Seals. (AP Photo/John Lent)
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1971 — The New York Rangers score eight goals in the third period of a 12-1 rout over the California Seals.
In this Nov. 21, 1971, file photo, the New York Rangers' Jean Ratelle is all smiles as he holds four pucks in the team's Madison Square Garden dressing room after scoring four goals in the Rangers' 12-1 win over the California Seals. (AP Photo/John Lent)
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Tennis player who’s been missing from view tells Olympic officials she’s safe
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In this Dec. 19, 1981, file photo, Brigham Young University quarterback Jim McMahon raises his arms in celebration as BYU defeated Washington State 38-36 in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego. (AP Photo)
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1981 — Brigham Young’s Jim McMahon passes for 552 yards in a 56-28 victory over Utah. Gordon Hudson sets the NCAA record for yards gained by a tight end with 259.
In this Dec. 19, 1981, file photo, Brigham Young University quarterback Jim McMahon raises his arms in celebration as BYU defeated Washington State 38-36 in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego. (AP Photo)
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Tennis player who’s been missing from view tells Olympic officials she’s safe
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In this Nov. 21, 2004, file photo, Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a shot in the first set against Lleyton Hewitt in their Masters Cup finals match in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)
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In this Nov. 21, 2004, file photo, Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a shot in the first set against Lleyton Hewitt in their Masters Cup finals match in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)
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Tennis player who’s been missing from view tells Olympic officials she’s safe
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In this Nov. 21, 2010, file photo, Jeff Burton (31) and Jimmie Johnson (48) take turn four during the Ford 400 auto race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
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Tennis player who’s been missing from view tells Olympic officials she’s safe
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2015 — Brent Burns scores twice and Patrick Marleau gets his 1,000th career point — an assist on Burns’ first goal — to lift the San Jose Sharks over the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1.
In this Nov. 21, 2015, file photo, the San Jose Sharks' Patrick Marleau (12) is greeted by teammates on the bench, Joe Pavelski (8) and Melker Karlsson (68), after getting an assist on a goal by Brent Burns for his 1,000th career point in the NHL in a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
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Tennis player who’s been missing from view tells Olympic officials she’s safe
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In this Nov. 21, 2015, file photo, Northern Iowa guard Wes Washpun celebrates after his team's 71-67 victory over North Carolina in an NCAA college basketball game in Cedar Falls, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
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2015 — Wes Washpun scores 21 points as Northern Iowa stuns top-ranked North Carolina 71-67 for its first win over the nation’s No. 1 team. The Panthers use a 29-8 run in the second half to turn a 50-34 deficit into a 63-58 lead. The Tar Heels scheduled the trip to Cedar Falls so senior Marcus Paige could play in his home state. Paige didn’t play because of a broken bone in his right hand.
In this Nov. 21, 2015, file photo, Northern Iowa guard Wes Washpun celebrates after his team's 71-67 victory over North Carolina in an NCAA college basketball game in Cedar Falls, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
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Tennis player who’s been missing from view tells Olympic officials she’s safe
AP FILE
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In this Nov. 21, 2016, file photo, Mackenzie Hughes of Canada poses with the trophy after winning the RSM Classic golf tournament in St. Simons Island, Ga. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
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2016 — Mackenzie Hughes holes an 18-foot par putt from off the green to win the RSM Classic and become the first rookie in 20 years to go wire-to-wire for his first PGA Tour victory. Four players return for the third extra playoff hole at the par-3 17th. Hughes makes his putt and watches Blayne Barber, Henrik Norlander and Camilo Villegas all miss par putts from 10 feet or closer.
In this Nov. 21, 2016, file photo, Mackenzie Hughes of Canada poses with the trophy after winning the RSM Classic golf tournament in St. Simons Island, Ga. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
