World Players Association Statement on Peng Shuai

The global player association movement is deeply concerned for the health and safety of Peng Shuai. Players who speak out are frequently targeted and left exposed to harm and abuse without protection or support, and that must end.

The global sport community including the International Olympic Committee has a responsibility to exercise its significant leverage and influence to protect athletes. It must act quickly and decisively to ensure Peng Shuai’s safety. This means demanding that China unequivocally demonstrates that Peng Shuai is and has at all times been safe and investigates the sexual assault allegations.

We join players around the world, the PTPA, WTA and human rights defenders in calling for Peng Shuai to be free from harm.

World Players supports the urgent establishment of a special delegation of international organisations and human rights experts to China to ascertain and guarantee Peng Shuai’s whereabouts and wellbeing.

#WhereisPengShuai

Related news

Failures in Brazilian Football Expose Culture of Misogyny and Abuse

Failures in Brazilian Football Expose Culture of Misogyny and Abuse

Persistent risks for women and children in Brazilian sport (Sao Paulo, March 6, 2026) — Ahead of this year’s International Women’s Day, renewed attention must be paid to the persistent risks facing women and children in the world of sports. Nowhere is this more pertinent than in Brazil, set to host the 2027 FIFA Women’s […]

READ MORE

2025 Annual Report: Shifting the Power of Sport

2025 Annual Report: Shifting the Power of Sport

Impacted People are Leading the Way “Looking back at our collective work and impact in 2025, one message is clear: policies are being put to the test, and the world of sport is being called to rise to the occasion,” reflects Andrea Florence, executive director of the Sport & Rights Alliance. “While multi-billion dollar organizations […]

READ MORE

FIFA: Keep the World in the World Cup

FIFA: Keep the World in the World Cup

Football belongs to the world. FIFA is planning the biggest World Cup ever: 48 teams, matches in 16 cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and billions watching around the world.   FIFA has promised a safe, welcoming and ‘inclusive’ tournament through its Human Rights Framework. But under U.S. President Donald Trump, harsh anti-human […]

READ MORE

Related resources

Failures in Brazilian Football Expose Culture of Misogyny and Abuse

Failures in Brazilian Football Expose Culture of Misogyny and Abuse

Persistent risks for women and children in Brazilian sport (Sao Paulo, March 6, 2026) — Ahead of this year’s International Women’s Day, renewed attention must be paid to the persistent risks facing women and children in the world of sports. Nowhere is this more pertinent than in Brazil, set to host the 2027 FIFA Women’s […]

READ MORE

Image shows purple background with broken volleyball net

Australia: Van de Velde denied visa for World Beach Volleyball Championships

Content warning: This statement mentions sexual assault, rape, and the abuser’s name. (Amsterdam, October 28, 2025) – Kyniska Advocacy, The Army of Survivors, and the Athletes Network for Safer Sports, are once again calling on the sports world to take action to prevent athletes convicted of sexual offenses from competing on the global stage. Last year, […]

READ MORE

New report: “No one wants to talk about it”

New report: “No one wants to talk about it”

Voices of impacted people on participation of athletes convicted of sexual offenses (Amsterdam, October 6, 2025) – The Sport & Rights Alliance’s Athletes Network for Safer Sports has released a crucial new exploratory study, “No one wants to talk about it:” Voices of impacted people on the participation of athletes convicted of sexual offenses at […]

READ MORE

Join the Network

Sport has the potential to be a catalyst for human development, unity, and freedom, but too often it instead brings harm to its athletes, fans, and communities. We exist to uncover and rectify the many abuses that exist both in and around sport. We aim to transform sports into an authentic force for good.