Paris, France – Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif has filed a legal complaint in France over online harassment, following a wave of criticism and false claims about her gender during the Paris Olympics, her lawyer announced on Sunday.
Khelif, who will carry Algeria’s flag in the closing ceremony, secured gold on Friday in the women’s welterweight division, solidifying her status as a new hero in her native Algeria and drawing global attention to women’s boxing.
The complaint, lodged with a special unit in the Paris prosecutor’s office dedicated to combating online hate speech, accuses the perpetrators of “aggravated cyber-harassment” targeting Khelif.
Her lawyer, Nabil Boudi, described the online attacks as a “misogynistic, racist, and sexist campaign” against the champion boxer.
The decision on whether to open a formal investigation now rests with the prosecutors. As is standard in French legal proceedings, the complaint does not name specific individuals but allows investigators to identify those responsible.
Khelif found herself at the center of a global controversy over gender identity and sports regulation following her first fight in Paris.
The incident occurred when Italian opponent Angela Carini withdrew just seconds into the match, citing pain from opening punches.
This sparked false rumors online that Khelif was transgender or a man, which quickly spread.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) publicly defended Khelif, condemning those who spread the misinformation. Khelif later expressed that the misconceptions about her “harms human dignity.”
Jessica Burrows, an IOC official responsible for safeguarding and mental health, also filed a complaint with French authorities, stating that she received threats and harassment online after addressing the issue at a press conference in Paris to defend Khelif.
The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed receipt of Burrows’ complaint on August 4 and indicated that it would be examined alongside Khelif’s case.
Source: apnews.com
