Algerian boxer files complaint over ‘escalating cyberbullying’ after gender row

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, whose gender has been at the center of controversy at the 2024 Paris boxing tournament, has filed a complaint with a French court for “aggravated cyberbullying,” the Olympic champion’s lawyer in the 66 kg category said Monday.

“After winning the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, boxer Imane Khelif has decided to start a new fight: for justice, dignity and honor,” Nabil Boudi, the athlete’s lawyer, who returned to Algeria this summer, wrote on the social network ‘X’ Monday.

Bowdy, for whom “the unfair persecution suffered by the boxing champion represents the biggest stain on the Olympic Games,” hopes the criminal investigation will “find out who started this misogynist, racist and sexist campaign, and also deal with those who fueled this misogynist, racist and sexist digital lynching.”

Khelif, 25, became the Olympic champion in the 66kg category on Friday, defeating China’s Yang Liu, the 2023 world champion, by unanimous decision in the final.

At Roland Garros, the Algerian, who has been heavily dogged by disinformation campaigns, criticism and what she called “bullying”, was celebrated in the stands where many of her country’s flags could be seen, receiving much applause and encouragement.

A fighter has called for an end to the abuse she has suffered after the International Boxing Association, which has been expelled from the Olympic movement, said it had conducted tests, never made public, that proved she was a man.

Khelif, who has won every round played at Paris 2024, came under particular attack after knocking out Italy’s Angela Carini early in the tournament in 46 seconds after her opponent left in tears, leading many to question her gender.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has come to the defense of the Algerian, trying to end the debate about an athlete who was born a woman and has lived her entire life as a woman, including competing at Tokyo 2020.