Organizers of the Australian Open confiscated T-shirts from fans that read 'Where's Peng Shuai?' referencing the disappearance of the Chinese tennis star

• Australian Open security staffers took shirts from spectators that read "Where's Peng Shuai?"
• Shuai, a 36-year-old Chinese tennis star, has not been seen in the public eye since November 2.
• "You're not supposed to bring any political statements" into the venue, security said when asked about the shirts.

Officials at the Australian Open directed fans to give up T-shirts and a banner that questioned the whereabouts of Peng Shuai, a 36-year-old Chinese tennis star who disappeared from the public after accusing a top Chinese official of sexual assault. 

"Where's Peng Shuai?" the shirts and banners read, according to social media posts. One video shows event security and police approaching spectators, directing them to surrender their shirts.

"You're not supposed to bring any political statements" into the venue, event security responded when asked on camera why they were confiscating the shirts, according to the video.

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Shuai has not been seen in the public eye since November 2, after she shared a post on the social media site Weibo alleging former Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli forced her into having sex with him.

"Why did you come and look for me again, take me to your house, and force me into sex? I have no proof, and it would be impossible for me to keep any evidence. You denied everything afterward," Shuai wrote.

The post remained up on the site for 20 minutes before it was removed, prompting international outcry and demands for an investigation, Insider's Rebecca Cohen and Jake Epstein reported in a timeline of her disappearance.

So far, neither Zhang Gaoli nor the Chinese government has responded to the allegations. 

The US government has called for "verifiable" proof of her well-being. Days after her disappearance, the Women's Tennis Association called for an investigation into Shuai's sexual assault accusations, adding that no one from the organization has been able to get in touch with her. On November 19, the WTA threatened to pull out of all events in China if an investigation into her claims and disappearance did not occur.

There have been unconfirmed reports that Shuai is safe, including a video of her shared by an editor of a state-run newspaper. But independent media outlets and organizations like the WTA have been unable to verify those reports. 

Global Times editor-in-chief Hu Xijin tweeted on November 19 that he could confirm Shuai was at her home "freely" and "didn't want to be disturbed."

"She will show up in public and participate in some activities soon," he claimed. The English-language Global Times is owned and published by the People's Daily, the newspaper of China's ruling Communist Party. News outlets like Reuters said they cannot verify the authenticity of his claim.

Emma Terho, chair of the Athletes' Commission of the International Olympic Committee, said in November that Shuai "appeared to be relaxed" on a virtual call.