"I never said anyone sexually assaulted me" says Peng Shuai in latest interview with L'Equipe

Tennis star Peng Shuai said there has been a "huge misunderstanding" over a post in which she claimed she was forced into having sexual relations with a former Chinese party leader.

The Peng Shuai saga experienced another bizarre twist in which the Chinese tennis player denied ever saying that somebody sexually assaulted her during a new interview with L'Equipe. The news became a huge topic a few months ago when Peng posted a message on Weibo claiming she was sexually assaulted by a high-ranking Chinese official.

The post on social media was quickly deleted and Ms Peng was not seen for weeks, sparking alarm for her welfare. In a new interview with L'Equipe Peng denied those accusations but the interview was conducted in highly controlled conditions. French newspaper L'Equipe had to submit questions in advance, and the interview was conducted at the Winter Olympics under the presence of a representative from China's Olympic Committee.

The representative also translated her comments from Chinese. Ms Peng told the outlet she was living a normal life - a line which has also been used by Chinese state officials about her previously. She also expressed thanks for the concern directed towards her. She said:

"I would like to know: why such concern?... I never said anyone sexually assaulted me."

She further said that she won't likely return to tennis explaining:

"Considering my age, my multiple surgeries and the pandemic that forced me to stop for so long, I believe it will be very difficult to regain my physical level."

Asked about the Weibo post she said:

"This post has given rise to a huge misunderstanding from the outside world. I hope that the meaning of this post will no longer be twisted. And I also hope that we don't add more hype to this."

BBC called the interview a propaganda exercise.