Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who has been at the center of a gender controversy during the Paris 2024 Olympics, has filed a legal complaint over online harassment.
Khelif’s lawyer, Nabil Boudi, submitted the complaint to the Paris Prosecutor’s Office on Friday. Boudi said that Khelif has faced “immoral and harmful comments” on social media.
In response, Khelif spoke out, saying, “All that is being said about me on social media is immoral. I want to change the minds of people around the world.”
Khelif’s situation became controversial after she won her opening bout against Italy’s Angela Carini. Carini quit the match after just 46 seconds, citing intense pain. There have been questions about Khelif’s eligibility due to her disqualification from the 2023 World Championships after failing a gender eligibility test.
Despite these issues, the International Olympic Committee (has defended Khelif. They confirmed that she meets all criteria to compete as a woman. The IOC has criticized the International Boxing Association for its “sudden and arbitrary” decision and the flawed nature of the gender eligibility tests.
On Friday, Khelif won gold in the women’s welterweight final by beating China’s Yang Liu. Khelif won each of the three rounds on the judges’ scorecards.
After the victory, she celebrated by jumping into the arms of her trainer, who carried her around the arena on his shoulders.
Khelif said, “For eight years, this has been my dream, and I’m now the Olympic champion and gold medallist.” She added, “That also gives my success a special taste because of those attacks.”
Addressing the controversy, Khelif stated, “I’m fully qualified to take part in this competition. I’m a woman like any other woman. I was born as a woman, I live as a woman, and I am qualified.”
Khelif had previously said that winning gold would be the “best response” to her critics who argued she should not have been allowed to compete due to concerns about elevated testosterone levels.
The IBA, which banned Khelif and a Taiwanese boxer from the world championships last year, has faced criticism for its governance issues, alleged corruption, and ties to Russia.
