Taiwan table tennis star Cheng I-ching has accused a security guard of sexually assaulting her when she arrived at a London arena for a match.
Cheng, 34, had been set to play in the World Team Championships in the English capital, and alleged she was subject to inappropriate physical contact by a security guard while undergoing metal detection procedures.
It is reported that a male security guard touched sensitive areas including her chest, and she took to social media to call for a safer environment to be provided for women.
Initially, Cheng was not named, but she chose to break her silence online. She wrote on Instagram: ‘As athletes, we endure immense physical and mental pressure in pursuit of better performance on the field, and we are also forced to confront various forms of unfair treatment.
These are not just my experiences, but challenges faced by countless female athletes around the world. That’s why this time, I’ve chosen to stand up. To speak out for all female athletes. Sports needs more than just equal opportunities; it needs the serious protection of human rights.
She added that she will ‘continue to strive and never back down.’
Table tennis star Cheng I-ching (pictured) has accused a security guard of sexual assault
It is reported that Cheng was removed from her team for the game due to the mental distress of the alleged incident.
The International Table Tennis Federation said in a statement: ‘We recognise that the UK is currently operating under heightened security threat levels, which necessitates stringent entry protocols at the venue.
‘However, these protocols must always be executed professionally and appropriately.’
According to the Taiwan Table Tennis Federation, the security guard was removed from duty after the allegations.
