“Whenever on , Peng Shuai published an enthusiastic allegation of sexual assault against a high Chinese government specialized, the newest Women’s Golf Connection approved you to Peng Shuai’s message was required to feel heard and you will given serious attention. The participants of the WTA, let-alone feminine globally, deserve little less.

From you to moment submit, Peng Shuai demonstrated the necessity of trying, particularly if you are looking at sexual physical violence, and particularly whenever strong folks are with it. Because the Peng told you in her own blog post, “Even when it is like a keen eggs hitting a stone, or if I’m such as for instance good moth keen on the fresh flames, inviting thinking-exhaustion, I can tell the truth about you.” She know the risks she’d deal with, but really she ran social anyhow. We esteem her stamina and you may courage.

If the effective some one normally suppresses new voices of women and brush accusations off sexual violence underneath the rug, then the base about what the newest WTA is depending – equality for ladies – do experience a tremendous setback

Since that time, Peng’s message has been removed from the web based and you can discussion off which really serious material could have been censored in the Asia. Chinese authorities was in fact considering the opportunity to cease this censorship, verifiably confirm you to Peng is free of charge and ready to cam in place of disturbance otherwise intimidation, and you can take a look at the allegation out of sexual physical violence within the a complete, fair and you may clear manner. Unfortuitously, the fresh new management during the China has not yet treated so it extremely serious question in just about any reliable way. While we now know where Peng try, I have significant doubts that she is totally free, as well as maybe not subject to censorship, coercion and you may bullying.

The newest WTA has been sure of all it takes here, and we recite all of our need a full and you will transparent research – in place of censorship – for the Peng Shuai’s sexual physical violence accusation

Not one regarding the is appropriate neither can it feel appropriate. I will not and cannot assist you to eventually the new WTA and its professionals.

Thus, and with the complete assistance of WTA Panel off Administrators, I am declaring the latest quick suspension of all WTA tournaments in China, teenage Girls chatterom and additionally Hong kong. Inside the a great conscience, I don’t observe I’m able to ask our sports athletes so you’re able to participate around whenever Peng Shuai is not permitted to express freely and has relatively already been exhausted so you can oppose their allegation regarding sexual physical violence. Given the present state out-of factors, I am also considerably worried about the dangers that all of our very own professionals and personnel you are going to deal with if we would be to keep events inside Asia from inside the 2022.

I’ve been gratified from the large amount off international assistance the fresh WTA has had because of its updates on this subject count. To further include Peng and other feminine throughout the world, it’s more immediate than in the past for all those to dicuss away. The latest WTA can do that which you it is possible to to protect the professionals. Even as we take action, I really hope frontrunners around the world will continue to speak out so fairness you can do to possess Peng, and all sorts of women, regardless of financial implications.

We quite definitely regret it has arrived to this point. The fresh golf organizations for the China and you can Hong-kong are full of great people who have which we have worked for decades. They ought to be pleased with its achievements, hospitality and you may achievement. Although not, until Asia takes this new steps i have asked for, we can’t set our very own participants and you may personnel at stake because of the holding events within the China. China’s frontrunners have gone new WTA and no choice. We will still be hopeful our pleas was heard and the Chinese regulators will take methods to help you lawfully target this dilemma.”