Sen. Ted Cruz praised the Women's Tennis Association for canceling events in China, saying it "put their money where their mouth is" over the country's treatment of tennis star Peng Shuai.

The Texas Republican described WTA's actions, noting it may result in the organization losing hundreds of millions of dollars, and how it is "a stark contrast to the NBA," which he said, "Groveled on their knees before the Communist dictators."

"Right now, the Women's Tennis Association has bigger balls than the NBA," Cruz said on the Clay Travis and Bill Sexton Show, alluding to the NBA's apparent deference to China on human rights issues. "And I'd like to see courage be contagious and more people stand up."

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Steve Simon, chairman and CEO of the WTA, announced on Wednesday the athletic corporation would suspend all tournaments in China due to a lack of confirmation regarding Peng's safety after she disappeared last month when she publicly claimed a former high-level Chinese Communist Party official sexually assaulted her.

"None of this is acceptable nor can it become acceptable," Simon wrote. "If powerful people can suppress the voices of women and sweep allegations of sexual assault under the rug, then the basis on which the WTA was founded — equality for women — would suffer an immense setback. I will not and cannot let that happen to the WTA and its players."

The European Union asked for “verifiable proof” that Peng is safe on Tuesday, explicitly asking China to provide "assurances that she is free and not under threat.”

Peng, a three-time Olympian and former top-ranked doubles player, disappeared on Nov. 3 after making a social media post accusing former CCP official Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault. The post was deleted about a half-hour after it was posted.

Cruz noted this and praised Peng for her "enormous courage" in sharing her accusation.

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In response, a bipartisan group of political leaders has called for the relocation of the 2022 Olympics, set to be held in Beijing, citing the country's human rights abuses. President Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are among those expressing support for some form of a boycott of the games.