Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has officially filed an online harassment complaint after being embroiled in a “gender controversy” involving several celebrities and news outlets claiming that Khelif is transgender, which is not the case.
This is what Khelif’s lawyer Nabil Boudi said Reuters that this formal complaint was filed on Friday, August 9th, and Sky News reports that the legal document was filed with the Paris prosecutor’s office. The complaint states that Khelif was the victim of online harassment.
A press release issued by Khelif’s lawyer states (translated into English):
“After the sporting period comes the legal period. Having just won a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, boxer Imane Khelif has decided to fight a new battle: that of justice, dignity and honour. Ms. Khelif has turned to the law firm, which yesterday filed a complaint for cyberbullying, aggravated by the Center against online hatred of the Paris public prosecutor’s office.”
The statement continued: “The criminal investigation will clarify who initiated this misogynistic, racist and sexist campaign, but must also focus on those who fuelled this digital lynching. The unjustified harassment to which the world boxing champion was subjected will remain the greatest stain on these Olympic Games.”
On Saturday, August 10, Khelif also released the following statement to the press:
“Everything that is said about me on social media is immoral. I want to change the minds of people all over the world.”
Imane Khelif poses with her gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Aytac Unal/Anadolu via Getty Images
Khelif won the gold medal in the women’s welterweight (66 kg) category at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Friday, August 9, after being harassed by celebrities and media who falsely claimed that the Algerian boxer was transgender.
The last Olympic fight in which Khelif won gold was against China’s Yang Liu. Unlike some of Khelif’s previous competitors, Liu never showed hostility towards Khelif or spread the false claim that the Algerian boxer was transgender.
In fact, Khelif and Liu were seen smiling and raising their hands together during the game.
Yang Liu and Imane Khelif at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Maja Hitij/Getty Images
After winning the gold medal, Khelif told the press in attendance: “It was my dream for eight years and now I am an Olympic champion and gold medalist” (via The Associated Press).
When asked about the gender controversy taking place on social media, Khelif responded as follows:
“It’s also because of these attacks that my success is particularly special. We are at the Olympics to perform as athletes and I hope that we will not experience such attacks at future Olympic Games.”
Out of has contacted Imane Khelif’s lawyer Nabil Boudi.
This story is still developing…
