IOC warned against 'dangerous' idea to meet with tennis star Peng Shuai

The International Olympic Committee has been warned against meeting with Peng Shuai in Beijing during the 2022 Winter Olympics.

President Thomas Bach is expected to attend a dinner with the Chinese tennis star, who recently disappeared from the public eye.

Peng was not heard from for almost three weeks after making sexual assault allegations against a former Chinese Community Party official on social media.

During the period of silence from the 36-year-old, a dubious letter purportedly written by Peng was released by Chinese state media, stating she was neither missing nor unsafe.

The letter, which opens with the line "Hello everyone this is Peng Shuai," stresses the sexual assault allegations made are not true and the tennis star is simply at home "resting."

From Chinese state media, “from” Peng Shuai. Deeply dubious. pic.twitter.com/XJkB169VD9

After widespread concerns were raised about the wellbeing of Peng, the former doubles world number one was suddenly photographed in public again. Additionally, she appeared on a video call with IOC President Bach, where she also insisted she was safe and well.

Last week, spectators at the Australian Open sported "Where is Peng Shuai?" t-shirts to help keep conversation about the Chinese tennis star flowing. 

In a perhaps well-timed announcement, the IOC recently revealed a meeting with Peng had been arranged to take place in Beijing this month.

Peng and Bach are scheduled to meet over dinner during the Winter Olympics but Julie Ann Rivers-Cochran, the executive director of Army of Survivors, has warned the IOC against going ahead with the meeting.

Army of Survivors is a survivor-founded organisation, which was established in the wake of the Larry Nassar USA Gymnastics sexual