Olympic champion, IMANE KHELIF, files petition after gender role at Paris Olympics

Monday, August 12, 2024 - Olympic boxing champion, Imane Khelif has filed a legal complaint in France for online harassment after a rain of criticism and false claims about her s3x during the Paris Olympics, her lawyer said on Sunday.

Khelif, who won gold last Friday in the women’s welterweight division, became a hero in her native Algeria, bringing global attention to women’s boxing.

The complaint was filed on Friday with a special unit in the Paris prosecutor’s office for combating online hate speech, alleging “aggravated cyber-harassment” targeting Khelif, lawyer Nabil Boudi said.

In a statement, he described it as a “misogynist, racist and sexist campaign” against the boxer.

"Having just won a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, boxer Imane Khelif has decided to lead a new fight: that of justice, dignity and honor," Boudi said.

"Ms. Khelif contacted the firm, which filed a complaint yesterday for acts of aggravated cyber harassment with the anti-online hatred center of the Paris public prosecutor's office."

Boudi added he asked for the criminal investigation to determine who initiated the "misogynistic, racist and sexist campaign" against Khelif.

"The unfair harassment suffered by the boxing champion will remain the biggest stain of these Olympic Games," Boudi added.

Khelif was crowned an Olympic champion on Friday after comfortably beating China's Yang Liu by unanimous decision to win gold in the women's welterweight final.

She won each of the three rounds on the judges' scorecards and jumped into the arms of her trainer when the decision was announced. He carried the 25-year-old around the arena on his shoulders in celebration.

Khelif had been under intense scrutiny after a previous fighter quit after 46 seconds, saying it was to protect her health as the Algerian's punches were so strong.

Khelif had said winning gold would be the "best response" to her critics.

Some argued she should not have been allowed to compete due to concerns she might have elevated testosterone that can lead to extra strength and muscle - potentially endangering her opponent.

Khelif and a Taiwanese boxer were banned from the world championships last year, with the International Boxing Association (IBA) saying they failed gender eligibility tests.

However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said the decision was "sudden and arbitrary" and the tests were majorly flawed.