According to Xinhua News Agency in London on May 2, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) issued a statement on the same day regarding a complaint from a female athlete who reported experiencing inappropriate physical contact from security personnel during a security check at the London World Table Tennis Championships. The ITTF confirmed that a comprehensive investigation has been launched, emphasizing that “the safety and dignity of athletes are non-negotiable.”
On the evening of May 2 Beijing time, Cheng Jiaqi, the coach of the Chinese Taipei women’s team, posted online describing what she called “extremely serious and unacceptable” behavior during the pre-match security check. She stated that “security personnel engaged in inappropriate physical contact with our team’s players, including actions that resembled sexual harassment, and obstructed the players’ normal passage, causing significant psychological distress and directly affecting our lineup and participation.” She urged the ITTF to respond clearly and investigate the matter to protect the athletes’ basic dignity and safety, and to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
The ITTF subsequently released a statement titled “Statement on Enhancing Security Protocols at the London World Team Table Tennis Championships,” saying: “The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), World Table Tennis (WTT), and the London 2026 World Team Table Tennis Championships Organizing Committee (LOC) are deeply concerned by a complaint from a female athlete today regarding inappropriate physical contact by security personnel during her entry security check.” The statement added: “Every athlete deserves to feel safe, respected, and protected at all times and in all places. Such behavior is completely unacceptable. We state unequivocally: the safety and dignity of athletes are non-negotiable. The ITTF, WTT, and LOC have directly communicated with the athlete’s team and have pledged to provide all necessary assistance and support.”
The statement also noted that a full fact-finding and security review is underway. It acknowledged the heightened security threat level in the UK, requiring strict entry controls at the event venue, but stressed that all measures must be carried out in a professional and appropriate manner. “The parties involved in organizing this event will not tolerate any behavior that compromises athletes’ rights, and this matter should be treated with the utmost seriousness. The ITTF, WTT, and LOC are conducting a thorough review of the incident,” the statement said. It concluded: “We stand with the athlete and remain committed to ensuring she feels supported throughout this process and beyond. We pledge to work diligently to uphold the basic dignity of all participants and to take measures to prevent such incidents from happening again.”
