Written by By Eyder Peralta, CNN
The International Olympic Committee has said that Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai is safe, after she was reportedly spotted on social media looking emotional after reporting for an international crime investigation unit.
Rojeh Molodet, the prosecutor of Czech Republic, asked Peng for a “private chat” on Wednesday, according to state-run news site Xinhua. The athlete reportedly sent Mohodet a statement via video call, according to social media posts
Peng and her management team at Grand Slam Aegon Championship, which is scheduled to take place on September 8-10 in Sheffield, said they were not aware of the allegations, according to the BBC.
The Olympic body said it learned of the allegations when AFP contacted the organization Thursday evening.
“We are in constant communication with the Chinese Tennis Association, and the staff at WTA said they were not aware of any safety problems,” said IOC spokesperson Mark Adams, adding that Peng was safe and under the jurisdiction of the Czech Republic.
Peng is in the build-up to the fourth round of Wimbledon.
Peng said she does not know why the investigator requested the call.
“I do not understand why I am being investigated,” Peng said, according to China.com.cn.
“I assume that I have been wanted by the Czech police because I have had trouble with my passport and I cannot go back to China to visit my family.
“I am not scared to give myself up because I do not want to be caught yet again. I have done something bad, of course. The only way to fix it is to admit it and pay for it,” she added.
AFP has been unable to reach her management team for comment.
In May, Peng spent an 18-hour overnight detention in North Korea after she was deported by that country and was suspected of attempting to steal expensive watches.
AFP reported at the time that the tennis star came to China illegally and was unable to identify her Korean passport or say her true age.