Peng Shuai has been the subject of many news stories, due to her allegations of sexual assault by a leading Communist Party leader in China. While going through our email inbox over the Christmas Holiday, we stumbled across the following old press release from 2018 which may have been the last time she was the subject of an internationally distributed press release before her recent allegations.
 | MEDIA RELEASE London, 8 August 2018 |
Peng Shuai disciplined for breach of Tennis Anti-Corruption Program
Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai has been disciplined for breaching the sport’s anti-corruption code by attempting to change her doubles partner after sign-in deadline.
Peng Shuai was found to have used coercion and offered the possibility of financial reward in return for her main draw partner agreeing to withdraw from the ladies doubles event at Wimbledon 2017.
Although the offer was refused and Peng Shuai did not subsequently compete at The Championships, it constituted a breach of Section D.1.d of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) which states that: “No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, contrive or attempt to contrive the outcome or any other aspect of any Event.”
Independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer (AHO) Prof Richard H. McLaren considered the case at a Hearing held in London on 16 July 2018, following an investigation by the TIU.
Today’s decision from Prof McLaren imposes a six months ban, with three months suspended, and $10,000 fine, with $5,000 suspended, on condition that no further breaches of the TACP are committed.
The suspension applies with immediate effect and means that the player cannot compete in or attend any event organised, sanctioned or recognised by the governing bodies of the sport.
Assuming no further breaches of the TACP are committed, Peng Shuai will be eligible to play again on 8 November 2018.
The 32-year old is currently ranked 20 in doubles and 80 in singles. She was the number one ranked doubles player in February 2014 and has a career-best singles ranking of 14 achieved in August 2011.
In a companion ruling Prof McLaren imposed a three months period of suspension of credentials on the player’s former French coach, Bertrand Perret.
The Tennis Integrity Unit is an initiative of the Grand Slam Board, the International Tennis Federation, the ATP and the WTA, who are jointly committed to a zero tolerance approach to corruption in tennis.
