Criticism of the International Olympic Committee's handling of the Peng Shuai situation is "complete nonsense", says senior IOC official Dick Pound.
But the call was criticised by tennis leaders and human rights groups for not addressing concerns over her wellbeing.
Pound said the call was a "great step forward" and the "right approach".
"What the IOC established is that quiet and discreet diplomacy gets you better than clashing cymbals," Pound, the IOC's longest-serving official, added.
"That's not the way you deal with any country, certainly not with China."
He added: "To accuse the IOC of being complicit with a Chinese propaganda effort built around Peng is complete nonsense.