Martina Navratilova has hit out on the Australian Open for banning followers from carrying shirts bearing messages of assist for Chinese language doubles participant Peng Shuai.
In November final yr, the world No.1 doubles star took to social media platform Weibo and accused a former senior Chinese language official of pressuring her into intercourse and within the rapid weeks after the 36-year-old disappeared from social media, sparking considerations for her security.
Regardless of public appearances from Peng since, tennis gamers and followers are nonetheless calling for motion and after a video emerged of safety officers and police on the Australian Open instructing followers on Saturday to take away shirts with the slogan, ‘The place is Peng Shuai?’ on them, Tennis Australia defended its stance.
‘Underneath our ticket circumstances of entry we don’t permit clothes, banners or indicators which can be business or political,’ a spokesperson stated.
‘Peng Shuai’s security is our major concern. We proceed to work with the WTA and international tennis neighborhood to hunt extra readability on her state of affairs and can do the whole lot we are able to to make sure her well-being.’
However 18-time Grand Slam singles champion Navratilova has branded Tennis Australia’s stance as ‘weak’ and ‘cowardly.’
‘I discover it actually, actually cowardly,’ she stated on the Tennis Channel.
‘I believe they're improper on this. This isn't a political assertion, this can be a human rights assertion.
‘(Tennis Australia is) simply actually capitulating on this subject… letting the Chinese language actually dictate what they do at their very own Slam. I simply discover it actually weak.’
In response to the priority over Peng’s welfare within the aftermath of her allegations, the Girls’s Tennis Affiliation (WTA) suspended tournaments in China.
Nevertheless, final month Peng got here out and stated she’d by no means accused anybody of sexually assaulting her, insisting her social media put up had been misunderstood.
Nevertheless, the difficulty isn’t going away with journalists nonetheless in a position to ask gamers competing on the Australia Open about Peng’s state of affairs.
‘I think about myself in her sneakers, and in that approach, it’s a bit of bit scary,’ Naomi Osaka stated final week.
‘You sort of need to lend your voice and also you need individuals to, you recognize, ask the questions.’
Two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka added: ‘There hasn’t been that a lot improvement when it comes to contact with Peng Shuai though from our aspect we'll proceed to make any and all efforts to ensure that she is protected, she feels snug.’
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