Peng Shuai had a private dinner with Olympic bosses the night before calling her disappearance an 'enormous misunderstanding'

• Peng Shuai gave her first interview to Western media since accusing a Chinese official of sexual assault and disappearing.
• She told L'Equipe: "Sexual assault? I never said anyone had sexually assaulted me in any way."

Peng Shuai, the Chinese tennis player who disappeared after accusing a former Chinese official of sexual assault, had a private dinner with Olympic bosses before calling the saga an "enormous understanding."

In November, Peng wrote on the Chinese social-media network Weibo that former the Chinese vice premier Zhang Gaoli had sexually assaulted her. The post was deleted shortly after, and she disappeared from the public eye for several weeks, sparking widespread fears that she was being silenced for the allegation.

She has since reemerged, and twice publicly denied that she was sexually assaulted. Most recently, she denied making such assertions in an interview with French newspaper L'Equipe, her first with Western media since initially making the accusation.

"Sexual assault? I never said anyone had sexually assaulted me in any way," Peng told L'Equipe, adding that she believes the whole thing was "an enormous misunderstanding."

L'Equipe said it conducted the interview at a Beijing hotel on Sunday, per the Associated Press.

On Monday, the International Olympic Committee published a brief statement confirming that Thomas Bach, its president, met Peng for dinner in Beijing on Saturday, shortly after the start of the Beijing Winter Olympics.

The statement said that Peng ate at the Olympic Club in Beijing with Bach and IOC member Kirsty Coventry, a former swimmer with seven Olympic medals.

"During the dinner, the three spoke about their common experience as athletes at the Olympic Games, and Peng Shuai spoke of her disappointment at not being able to qualify for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020," the statement said.

"Kirsty Coventry and Peng Shuai also agreed that they would remain in contact. And all three agreed that any further communication about the content of the meeting would be left to her discretion."

At no point did the IOC statement mention Peng's previous allegation of sexual assault, or suggestions that she was silenced after the accusation.

The IOC has been faced with substantial criticism over its approach to Peng's allegations and subsequent disappearance.

Many critics have suggested that Olympic organizers are unwilling to upset China because of the Beijing Games, and have thus steered clear of criticizing the Chinese government over its handling of the situation.

Peng abruptly retires

In her interview with L'Equipe, Peng also confirmed that she will retire from professional tennis, an unexpected move for the athlete.

Announcing her retirement, she cited her age, "multiple surgeries," and the COVID-19 pandemic as reasons for bowing out.

"Tennis completely changed my life. It brought me joy, challenges, and so much more. Sometimes it's hard to say goodbye and retire," Peng said.

"Even if I no longer participate in professional competitions, I will always be a tennis player."