Naomi Osaka, the world tennis champion, is the latest athlete to express concern about the whereabouts of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai.
Ms. Peng, one of China’s most famous athletes, has not been heard from since she made sexual assault allegations against a top Chinese official.
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) said she is “safe and not under any physical threat.”
They were, however, unable to contact her directly.
“I hope Peng Shuai and her family are okay. I’m stunned by the current situation, and I’m sending her love and light.”
It comes after a number of tennis players spoke out against Ms. Peng.
Novak Djokovic, the world’s number one tennis player, said earlier this week that he hoped she was okay and that he was shocked.
French player Nicholas Mahut chimed in, saying, “We are all concerned.”
A tennis player has accused a top Chinese official of abusing him. Peng’s sex abuse claim must be heard.’
Ms. Peng, a former world number one tennis doubles player, posted about the alleged assault on Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli on the Chinese social media site Weibo in November.
She claimed in the post that she was “forced” into a sexual relationship with Mr. Zhang.
Mr. Zhang, 75, was China’s Vice Premier from 2013 to 2018 and a close ally of Chinese President Xi Jinping. He hasn’t responded to her allegations.
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Her post was later removed from the site, and all mentions of her on social media were removed.
Ms. Peng hasn’t been seen or heard from in public since.
WTA CEO Steve Simon had previously called on Chinese authorities to conduct a “full and transparent investigation” into Ms. Peng’s allegations of sexual assault.
“We applaud Peng Shuai for her extraordinary bravery… Women all over the world are finding their voices so that injustices can be corrected.”
Mr. Simon stated that the WTA had received confirmation from several sources, including the Chinese Tennis Association, that Ms. Peng was safe, but he had been unable to contact her directly.
“My understanding is that she is in Beijing, China,” Mr. Simon told The New York Times. “I can’t confirm that because I haven’t spoken directly with her.”
Ms. Peng’s allegation is the most high-profile case in China’s #MeToo movement, which has largely gone unnoticed.
