French authorities have launched an investigation into allegations of cyberbullying against Algerian Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif, who was embroiled in a gender controversy at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The Paris public prosecutor’s office confirmed that the investigation, which began on Tuesday, is focused on cyberharassment following a complaint filed by Khelif, France 24 reported.
The controversy surrounding Khelif, who won the women’s 66kg boxing final against China’s Yang Liu, has sparked widespread debate, with prominent figures commenting on the case.
Her legal complaint alleges that the harassment was aggravated by high-profile individuals, including Elon Musk and British author J.K. Rowling, American magazine Variety reported.
Khelif’s lawyer, Nabil Boudi, described the complaint as a fight for justice, condemning the misogynist, racist, and sexist nature of the online harassment directed at the athlete. The investigation is being handled by France’s Central Office for Combating Crimes against Humanity and Hate Crimes.
Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, the 57kg women’s boxing champion, were previously disqualified from the 2023 World Championships due to failing gender eligibility tests but were later cleared to compete in the Paris Olympics.
The controversy began after Khelif’s swift victory in the round of 16 against Italy’s Angela Carini, who quit the match after 46 seconds. Soon after, questions about Khelif’s sex began to circulate, with some accusing her of being transgender.
The Algerian athlete was the victim of a brutal campaign of hate speech coming from the far-right in US and Europe. The bullying was so intense that Khelif’s father felt compelled to come forward with her birth certificate to prove she is a woman.
Yet the International Olympic Committee (IOC) defended the decision to allow Khelif to compete, dismissing claims made by critics and emphasizing the need for a scientifically sound approach to gender identification in sports.
Amid the intense bullying campaign, Khelif received widespread support as many rallied behind her and celebrated her achievements.
