Sydney, Australia (CNN)The Australian Open has been criticized for launching a small protest over the Chinese Communist Party’s alleged mistreatment of tennis player Peng Shuai.
Protesters unfurled a banner reading “Where’s Peng Shuai” during the match between China’s Wang Qiang and America’s Madison Keys, and one of the protesters also wore a T-shirt with the same slogan supporting Peng.
According to Max Mok, one of three people involved in the demonstration, security forces at the Australian Open ended the protest on Friday.
Mok told CNN that security forces initially confiscated the banner, citing a tournament ban on political paraphernalia. The guards told the protesters they could stay if they covered their T-shirts but would not return the banner.
CNN has learned the seizure took place outside of the pitch where Wang and Keys were playing, with the trio eventually exiting Melbourne Park tournament venue with the banner, Mok said.
“I find that really, really cowardly. It’s not a political statement, it’s a human rights statement,” said retired tennis champion Martina Navratilova tennis channelin response to the organizers’ termination of the protest.
Tennis player Nicolas Mahut also accused the organizers of bowing to outside pressure.
“What’s happening?” he tweeted. “What a lack of courage! What if you didn’t have Chinese sponsors?”
One of the Australian Open’s three “associated partners” is liquor company Luzhou Laojiao, which organizers say was the largest Chinese sponsorship deal in the history of the tournament when the sponsorship deal was announced in 2018.
“We are delighted to welcome Luzhou Laojiao to the Australian Open family of partners, a significant event in the history of our organization,” said Richard Heaselgrave, Chief Revenue Officer of Tennis Australia.
“We have made no secret that China and the region are a major priority for the Australian Open and that we take our role as the Grand Slam of Asia-Pacific seriously.”
Tennis Australia has not yet responded to CNN’s request for comment on the handling of the protest.
READ: Kanter Freedom is willing to visit China, but only if he can see “the real China”.
CNN Affiliate Channel 7 reported a response from the tournament organizer on Saturday, which read, “Per our ticket terms and conditions, we do not allow clothing, banners or signs that are commercial or political.”
It added, “Peng Shuai’s safety is our primary concern. We continue to work with the WTA and the global tennis community to gain more clarity on her situation and will do everything we can to ensure her wellbeing.”
Last November, there were fears that Peng was being held incommunicado by the Chinese government after she accused retired Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of forcing her to have sex during a years-long on-off relationship.
Peng later denied making the allegation of sexual assault. The Women’s Tennis Association has continued to call for a thorough and transparent investigation into Peng’s allegations and has suspended all tournaments in China for safety reasons.
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