INTERNATIONAL: International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach will meet Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai inside the 'closed loop' of the Beijing Olympics, he has announced on Thursday,February 3.

The well-being of Peng, a former world number one doubles player, became a matter of concern in November when she alleged on social media that a former Chinese vice premier, Zhang Gaoli, had sexually assaulted her.

The closed loop is a zone all Games participants are restricted to in order to avoid a spread of the coronavirus infection in Beijing. The Games officially open on Friday (February 4).

Last month Peng has said she had never accused anyone of sexually assaulting her and that the post she made had been misunderstood. Zhang has not commented on the matter.

The IOC has held several video calls with Peng in past weeks and Bach has said a planned meeting would go ahead at the February 4-20 Games.

Bach has also said if Peng wanted her allegations to be investigated he would support her.

The IOC has had several phone calls with the player in recent months but international concerns over her safety and well-being have not been allayed.

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has suspended tournaments in China due to its concerns over Peng's safety.

China has not directly commented on Peng's initial post but said after the WTA's move that it "opposes the politicisation of sports".