The International Olympic Committee was under siege.

Peng Shuai, a three-time Olympian from China, had not been heard from for weeks after making sexual abuse allegations against a former senior political official, a man who had played a central role in preparations for the coming Winter Games in Beijing.

Initially silent on the disappearance of Peng, a women’s tennis star, Olympic officials were now facing a growing global chorus of concern. The WTA Tour, through its CEO, was demanding answers and an investigation. Fellow tennis stars such as Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka — as well as human rights groups, politicians and everyday fans — were using social media to ask #WhereIsPengShuai? Media organizations were flooding the internet with news coverage.