Closing November, tennis superstar Peng was once feared to be held incommunicado by way of the Chinese language authorities after she accused retired Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of forcing her into intercourse all over a years-long on-off dating.
Peng, a three-time Olympian and grand slam doubles champion, later denied having made the sexual attack declare.
The WTA endured to name for an intensive and clear investigation into Peng’s allegations and suspended all tournaments in China over her protection.
“We stay devoted to discovering a answer to this,” Simon instructed The Tennis Podcast.
“We wish to discover a answer that Peng will also be happy with, the Chinese language authorities will also be happy with, and we will be happy with.
“We don’t seem to be about strolling clear of China. We’ve got suspended our operations there presently. We can proceed to do this till we get to a answer.
“We can keep resolute. We do hope to be again there in 2023 with the answer that presentations development was once made within the house. That is a victory for the arena if we will do so.”
China’s government-controlled media lashed out on the WTA on Twitter after it introduced the blanket ban final 12 months, accusing the governing frame of “striking on an exaggerated display,” and “supporting the West’s assault on Chinese language gadget.”
However Simon insists the group won’t merely stroll clear of the problem.
‘We need to discover a resolution’
The Global Olympic Committee (IOC) stated Olympic officers met with Peng in February, following via on a promise to carry a gathering with the athlete.
The dinner, held at the sidelines of the Beijing Iciness Video games, was once the primary in-person assembly between IOC President Thomas Bach and Peng for the reason that former Olympian made the allegations, that have since been wiped from the Chinese language web.
Bach and Peng first agreed to satisfy all over the Beijing Olympics in a video name in November final 12 months, however the IOC has are available for harsh complaint for its dealing with of the location, with critics accusing it of supporting Chinese language authorities efforts to silence Peng.
Closing 12 months, Simon stated the IOC’s intervention was once inadequate to allay issues about Peng’s protection.
“We’ve got no longer had any contemporary conversation with Peng and the arena has no longer observed Peng for the reason that Olympics both,” Simon added.
“I don’t believe you’ll make alternate on this global by way of strolling clear of problems. You must create alternate.
“It may not be the entirety we would like. However we need to discover a resolution that reveals that steadiness that permits us to return and notice development within the house.”
