[MTVN]

Anyone been following this story? Peng alleged early in the month that she was forced to have a sexual relationship with the Chinese Vice Premier and has not been heard from since. This evening Chinese media have been posting an email purporting to be from her which says she is fine but it seems fake as hell. Whole thing is so messed up and sinister

The head of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has cast doubt on an email released by Chinese state media attributed to tennis player Peng Shuai.

Steve Simon, chairman of the WTA, said in a statement he had a "hard time believing" the email was written by Ms Peng or on her behalf.

One of China's biggest sporting stars, she has not been heard from since she made sexual assault allegations against a top Chinese official.

The email was shared on Wednesday.

Broadcaster CGTN published the correspondence - allegedly written by Ms Peng - online. Written in her voice, it claims she was not missing or unsafe, adding: "I've just been resting at home and everything is fine."

The email also said the sexual assault allegation attributed to her was false.

Many responding on social media have cast doubt on the authenticity of the email - including pointing out that a typing cursor appears to be visible on the screenshot of the email published by CGTN.

Full story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-59325399