Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has filed a lawsuit for online harassment after some people protested because of her gender-based comments saying she is not a woman.
The first-time Olympic champion’s lawyer, Nabil Boudi, told Reuters the complaint was filed on Friday.
“Everything that is said about me on social media is immoral. I want to change the minds of people around the world,” Khelif said of the lawsuit.
The athlete won the top prize in the women’s welterweight final on Friday by unanimous decision, where she defeated China’s Yang Liu 5-0.
“For eight years, this was my dream and now I am an Olympic champion and a gold medalist,” Khelif said through an interpreter after her victory, according to the Associated Press. When asked about criticism of her gender, she told reporters: “It also gives a special touch to my success because of these attacks. We are at the Olympics to perform as athletes and I hope that we will not experience similar attacks in future Olympics.”
The outcry over her gender began after her first fight at the 2024 Paris Olympics against Italian boxer Angela Carini ended after 46 seconds. The European athlete told reporters she stopped the fight for health reasons. “I’ve never felt a blow like that,” she said, crying.
Carini’s comments and the fight sparked controversy as Khelif is one of two boxers who were allowed to compete in the Olympics despite being disqualified from the now-banned International Boxing Federation (IBA) 2023 Women’s World Championship. The Algerian boxer and Taiwan’s Li Yu-ting reportedly failed testosterone and gender suitability tests, the IBA said.
Among those who commented on Khelif’s gender and claimed she was a man were JK Rowling, Elon Musk, Logan Paul and Piers Morgan, who commented on the “fairness” of allowing Khelif to compete when they thought she was a man.
Khelif, who was raised and identifies as a woman and is not transgender, said Friday before her final fight: “I am fully qualified to compete in this competition. I am a woman like any other woman. I was born a woman, I live as a woman and I am qualified.”
