CEO of Women's Tennis Association suspends all tournaments in China and Hong Kong over Peng Shuai controversy

• The Women's Tennis Association has suspended tournaments in China and Hong Kong.
• The organization's CEO said the suspensions were due to concerns of the safety of player Peng Shuai.

The Women's Tennis Association has suspended all tournaments in China and Hong Kong amid concerns for the safety of athlete Peng Shuai, the organization's CEO said in a statement on Wednesday.

"I don't see how I can ask our athletes to compete there when Peng Shuai is not allowed to communicate freely and has seemingly been pressured to contradict her allegation of sexual assault," CEO Steve Simon said.

"Given the current state of affairs, I am also greatly concerned about the risks that all of our players and staff could face if we were to hold events in China in 2022," Simon added.

Peng, a Chinese tennis player, disappeared in early November after making sexual assault allegations against a high-ranking Chinese official.

While she later appeared in photos shared by state media and in a video call with IOC president Thomas Bach, several human rights organizations have raised concerns about her safety.

"While we now know where Peng is, I have serious doubts that she is free, safe and not subject to censorship, coercion and intimidation," Simon said.

Simon applauded Peng for speaking out, and has asked China to address "this very serious issue in any credible way."

"Unless China takes the steps we have asked for, we cannot put our players and staff at risk by holding events in China," he added. "China's leaders have left the WTA with no choice. I remain hopeful that our pleas will be heard and the Chinese authorities will take steps to legitimately address this issue."