IOC says its president video-chatted with missing Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, raising more questions

China worked hard this weekend to convince the world that tennis player Peng Shuai is fine, despite concerns she hasn't been seen in the three weeks since she publicly accused a high-ranking Chinese government official of sexual assault. The International Olympic Committee got involved Sunday, saying IOC president Thomas Bach had spoken with Peng for half an hour and releasing a still photo of their video chat.

Peng "explained that she is safe and well, living at her home in Beijing, but would like to have her privacy respected at this time," the IOC said. Also on the video call were IOC Athletes Commission chair Emma Terho and Li Lingwei, a Chinese sports official and IOC board member. "I was relieved to see that Peng Shuai was doing fine, which was our main concern," Terho said in the IOC statement. "She appeared to be relaxed."

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.