Since the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics got underway last week, stories of triumph, heartbreak and COVID-19 test results have made headlines around the world.Eileen Gu was the star of one of the most poignant moments of the Games so far, jumping to a gold medal in the women’s freeski big air final earlier this week.The 18-year-old was born in the United States to an American father and Chinese mother. Nicknamed the 'Snow Princess', she switched from representing the US to China in 2019.Gu is now a household name in China. She boasts nearly two million followers on the social media platform Weibo, has a parallel career as a fashion model, and is often seen plastered all over the country’s billboards and magazine covers.But as Gu spun in the air above the competition venue, she was watched by someone arguably more well-known, albeit for all the wrong reasons. Peng Shuai.Peng, a former world number one doubles player, bravely made sexual assault allegations against China’s former Vice Premier, Zhang Gaoli, at the start of November.In a post on Weibo, Peng claimed she was coerced into having sex with Zhang, which began an on-off consensual relationship with the former Politburo Standing Committee member.The post was deleted 30 minutes later, and searches for “tennis”, “Peng Shuai” and “Zhang Gaoli” were temporarily blocked.Peng also disappeared from public view for two weeks, sparking concern from the world of tennis and the wider sporting community.MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 23: Shuai Peng and Shuai Zhang of China during their Women's Doubles first round match against Veronika Kudermetova of Russia and Alison Riske of the United States on day four of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 23, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal and Billie Jean King were among the high-profile figures to question the whereabouts of the Chinese star.With the concern for Peng’s wellbeing intensifying, she suddenly appeared in a steady stream of photos and videos released by Chinese Government-controlled media on Twitter.The images showed Peng in a restaurant, and at home with her family, but did nothing to prove that the tennis player was safe and free.The concern did not dissipate, and so followed a video call with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach and an interview with a Chinese-language Singaporean newspaper. During the latter, Peng retracted her sexual assault claims.She did the same in an interview with L’Equipe this week, her first encounter with a Western media outlet since November.

“This post has given rise to a huge misunderstanding from the outside world,” Peng said. “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.”

Peng was also pictured at a number of events at Beijing 2022, attending the curling, figure skating and skiing with Bach and former IOC Athletes’ Commission chair Kirsty Coventry.

As a result, it could easily be concluded that the concern around Peng was indeed all a “misunderstanding”, but to look closer reveals a more ominous truth.

The interview with L’Equipe took place under extremely controlled circumstances, for example.

The French newspaper had to submit questions to the Chinese Olympic Committee beforehand, and an official from the organisation sat in on the interview to translate Peng’s answers from Chinese.

As pointed out by USA Today, Peng has often given interviews in English before, and could have done so again without the need for a translator.

BEIJING, CHINA - FEBRUARY 08: Thomas Bach, IOC President speaks with Peng Shuai prior to the Women's Freestyle Skiing Freeski Big Air Final on Day 4 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at Big Air Shougang on February 08, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Even Marc Ventouillac, one of the two L’Equipe journalists who interviewed Peng, suggested that the interview did little to confirm her freedom.

“It’s impossible to say,” he said. “It’s a part of communication, propaganda, from the Chinese Olympic Committee.

“It’s important, I think, for the Chinese Olympic Committee, for the Communist Party and for many people in China to try to show: ‘No, there is no Peng Shuai affair.’”

As for the IOC, the organisation has been heavily criticised by human rights groups for its handling of the Peng situation.

Advocacy group Global Athlete has claimed the IOC is complicit with China and accused the organisation of an “abhorrent indifference to sexual abuse of athletes."

"Peng Shuai accused one of the most powerful men in China of sexual assault," their statement said. "By virtue of his work on the Olympic Games, this man is also a sport administrator.

"Peng’s allegation was censored almost immediately, she was wiped off the internet in China, and she disappeared from public life for over two weeks despite global concern for her welfare.

"Sexual assault against female athletes is a persistent and dire problem facing Olympic sport. Until the IOC acknowledges these facts, every action they take regarding Peng Shuai is assisting the CCP’s propaganda and misinformation campaign.

"Additionally, the IOC’s continual unwillingness to acknowledge these facts shows an abhorrent indifference to sexual abuse of athletes."

The IOC’s handling of the crisis is in stark contrast to the WTA, who pulled all events in China in December.

MONTREAL, QC - AUGUST 10: A view of the WTA logo on the net during the Women's Singles match between Jessica Pegula of the United States and Anett Kontaveit of Estonia on Day Two of the National Bank Open presented by Rogers at IGA Stadium on August 10, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

WTA chairman Steve Simon has remained unconvinced at the latest attempts to prove Peng is free and safe, calling once again for a formal investigation into the allegations and an opportunity to meet with the tennis star privately.

It is a relief that there is a governing body still taking the situation seriously. Because Simon is correct – until Peng can meet with the WTA or media privately, without a member of the Chinese Olympic Committee looking over her shoulder, there is no true guarantee of her wellbeing and freedom.

The only way to achieve that goal is to keep asking questions, to continue putting pressure on the IOC and the Chinese Olympic Committee, to not let Peng be forgotten.

Otherwise, if the world is to believe that her L’Equipe interview and her appearances at Beijing 2022 mean everything is well, Peng will once again disappear from view and her sexual assault allegations will melt away.

This cannot be allowed to happen – Peng’s claims must be formally investigated and her safety must be guaranteed. Anything else will indeed show an “abhorrent indifference to sexual abuse of athletes.”

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 23: Shuai Peng of China plays a backhand during her Women's Doubles first round match with partner Shuai Zhang of China against Veronika Kudermetova of Russia and Alison Riske of the United States on day four of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 23, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)