Women’s Tennis suspends events in China following allegation against government official

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Originally published by The Wall Street Journal

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The Women’s Tennis Association said Wednesday that it would halt all of its tournaments in China because it isn’t satisfied that Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai is safe following an allegation of sexual assault against a retired senior government official made last month on her verified social-media account.

Though the decision could cost women’s tennis hundreds of millions of dollars in future revenue, WTA Chief Executive Steve Simon said he would willingly cut off one of the sport’s largest business partners until Peng’s status was clarified.

Other organizations, such as the National Basketball Association and soccer’s English Premier League, have previously clashed with China over various matters. But the WTA’s move to suspend the nine tournaments it has scheduled there for next year appears to be unprecedented in global sports.

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