The International Tennis Writers Association (ITWA) has added its support to the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and other bodies and players calling on the Chinese authorities to give meaningful reassurances about the welfare and safety of the Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai, and for her allegations of sexual assault against a senior Chinese official to be properly investigated, without censorship.

The board that runs ITWA, the association representing the world’s leading specialist tennis journalists, issued a statement saying:

“Peng Shuai’s allegations are very serious, and she is very brave to have made them.

“We fully support the efforts of the WTA and other tennis bodies in calling for meaningful assurances that Peng Shuai is safe, and for the allegations she has made to be properly investigated, without censorship.

“In the meantime, we wish Peng Shuai and her family and friends all the strength they need to get through this very stressful time.”