Imane Khelif, the Algerian boxer who made history by becoming the first woman from her country to win Olympic gold in boxing, has filed a legal complaint against online harassment. The complaint, filed with Paris prosecutors on Friday, targets the “aggravated online harassment” Khelif faced following her victory at the Paris Olympics 2024, according to her lawyer, Nabil Boudi.
Khelif’s triumph sparked intense scrutiny and criticism on social media, with some questioning her eligibility due to the presence of XY chromosomes. The controversy stemmed from the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) decision to bar Khelif and another athlete, Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan, from participating in the 2023 World Boxing Championship for having XY chromosomes. This decision was met with backlash from the International Olympic Association (IOA), who argued that these arbitrary sex tests were flawed.
Despite the controversy surrounding her gender, Khelif remained defiant. “I am a woman like any woman. I was born a woman, and I have lived as a woman,” she said, adding that “there are enemies to success, and they can’t digest my success.”
Khelif’s lawyer, Nabil Boudi, emphasized the severity of the harassment and the need for accountability. “The boxer Imane Khelif has decided to begin a new fight, a fight for justice, dignity and honour,” he said. “The investigation will determine who was behind this misogynist, racist and sexist campaign, but will also have to concern itself with those who fed the online lynching.”
Despite the outcry and relentless criticism, Khelif emerged victorious in the women’s welterweight division, defeating world champion Yang Liu of China by a score of 5:0. Her victory was a testament to her skill and dedication, but it was also a powerful statement against prejudice and discrimination.
