Army of Survivors brands International Olympic Committee meeting with Peng Shuai as inappropriate

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been warned attending a dinner with tennis player Peng Shuai during the Beijing 2022 would be an "inappropriate move".

IOC President Thomas Bach is expected to meet with Peng inside the closed loop at the Winter Olympic Games here. The potential dinner with Bach and Peng, will reportedly also be attended by Li Lingwei, vice-president of the Chinese Olympic Committee.

The warning is coming from the executive director of The Army of Survivors Ann Rivers-Cochran who commented on the move by saying it was inappropriate. The Army of Survivors is a survivor-founded organisation formed in response to the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal in USA Gymnastics.

Rivers-Cochran said:

"Not only is it a terrible idea, it is also a dangerous idea. It is a highly inappropriate move, that fails to consider the effects of trauma and will ultimately be retraumatising. To think that Peng Shaui has the right or the ability to speak freely to consent to this request without pressure is misguided at best. I think it is a poor move from the IOC as it perpetuates their inaction over her initial disclosure."

Rivers-Cochran further said:

"Even if a survivor retracts, there is usually a reason behind it, a threat etc. The IOC are not considering the effects of control around sexual assault."

The meeting is not yet confirmed but it's likely going to go ahead. What happens afterwards will remain to be seen but so far the IOC's moves around the matter have been widely criticized.