One of China’s most recognizable sports stars, Peng publicly accused Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, a former top Communist Party official, of forcing her to have sex at his home three years ago.
Peng was immediately suppressed by censorship and disappeared from public view for more than two weeks.
The IOC says it has made two calls with Peng.
According to the Olympic Organisation, its president Thomas Bach held a 30-minute video call on November 21 with three-time Olympian Peng, along with a Chinese sports official and an additional IOC representative.
On Wednesday, the IOC held a second call with Peng and said the Chinese tennis star “reaffirmed” that she was safe and well in a “difficult situation”.
“The purpose remains the same: either to attack that person – or himself – or to counter international criticism.”
The IOC was not immediately available for comment when asked by CNN about Dahlin’s open letter.
IOC defends itself
The IOC told CNN it was not providing any visual assets of Wednesday’s second video call with Peng, amid growing doubts about how freely he has been allowed to communicate, as well as There is also concern for his safety.
Longtime IOC member Dick Pound recently told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour that he was “shocked” by the response to the video call between Peng and Bach in November.
“Basically, a lot of people around the world were looking to see what happened to Peng Shuai and no one was able to establish contact,” he said.
“Only the IOC was able to do that, and there were conversations by video with Thomas Bach, who is an older Olympian, and two younger female IOC members. Nobody released the video because I think that aspect of it. was private.
“They found him in good health and in good spirits and they didn’t see imprisonment or anything like that.”
Pound said he had not seen the recording of the video call, but was “relying only on the joint decision of the three IOC members who were on the call.”
WTA takes a tough stand
“Peng is not free. You know – or should know – that he is not free,” Dahlin said.
“In every development of international criticism, like clockwork, Peng has either magically appeared or someone has provided something claiming to be from him to counter such criticism.”
Dahlin accused the IOC of allowing itself to be used by the Chinese government and instead urged in the footsteps of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), which in response to Beijing called for an immediate suspension of all tournaments in China, including Hong Kong. declare. To quell allegations of sexual harassment.
On Thursday, a WTA spokeswoman told CNN she had received a new email from Peng.
According to the WTA, this is the third email from Peng.
Citing a “confirmed source” in a Twitter post on Thursday, Chinese state media reporter Shen Shiwei said Shuai’s email “expressed his shock for the WTA’s unfair decision to postpone all tournaments in China.” “
Responding to this latest email, a WTA spokeswoman said that the organization stands by its decision to postpone the tournament in China.
The IOC said in a statement on Thursday that it was confident of its approach and handling of the situation.
“We are using “quiet diplomacy” which, given the circumstances and based on the experience of governments and other organizations, is the most promising way to proceed effectively in such humanitarian matters,” the statement said.
However, Dahlin has urged the IOC to change its stance, saying that “quiet diplomacy may have its place, but it is not here.”
He continued: “And you yourself clearly don’t believe it, because if you did, why are you escalating these video calls with Peng – especially since you refuse to release them. Is someone telling you that you can’t release them?
“At least educate yourself on the issue of forced disappearances and stage-managed confessions and appearances.”
Chinese officials have not accepted Peng’s allegations against Zhang and there is no indication that an investigation is underway.
Zhang has kept a low profile and has faded from public life since his retirement in 2018 and there is no public information regarding his current whereabouts.
Before retiring as Vice Premier, Zhang was the head of a Chinese government working group for the Beijing Games. In the role, he inspected venues, visited athletes, unveiled official emblems and held meetings to coordinate preparatory work.
Zhang had previously met IOC President Bach at least once, the two were photographed shaking hands together in the Chinese capital in 2016.
It is not clear whether Peng has reported his allegations to the police.
And at a news conference on Thursday, responding to a question about the WTA’s withdrawal, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry said, “China has always strongly opposed any act that politicizes the sport.”
CNN’s Amy Woodyatt, Steve George and Nectar Gan contributed reporting.
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