Olympic Gold Medalist, Khelif files complaint for online harassment

Algerian Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif has taken a stand against the barrage of online harassment and false claims about her gender during the Paris Olympics.

Her lawyer, Nabil Boudi, announced on Sunday that a complaint has been filed with the Paris prosecutor’s special unit combating online hate speech, alleging “aggravated cyber-harassment” targeting Khelif.

The complaint describes a “misogynistic, racist, and sexist campaign” against the boxer, who won gold in the welterweight division on Friday, becoming a new hero in her homeland and drawing global attention to women’s boxing. The International Olympic Committee has defended Khelif and denounced those spreading misinformation.

Khelif was unwittingly drawn into a conflict over gender identity and the sport’s regulations after her first fight, when her Italian opponent Angela Carini withdrew seconds into the bout, citing pain from the first few punches. False claims that Khelif was transgender or a man have erupted online, undermining her dignity and sparking widespread scrutiny.

The Paris prosecutor’s office has received the complaint and will decide whether to open an investigation. If proven, the alleged offences, including death threats, public provocations to attack a person, and online harassment, carry prison sentences of two to five years and fines of €30,000 to €45,000.

Experts say the scrutiny of Khelif reflects the disproportionate scrutiny and discrimination against female athletes of color when it comes to sex testing and false claims that they are male or transgender. The International Boxing Association’s arbitrary gender tests imposed on Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting have been called “irremediable” by the IOC.

Khelif’s complaint follows a similar one filed by Kirsty Burrows, head of the IOC’s safeguarding and mental health unit, who claimed she had received death threats and online harassment following a press conference in Paris where she defended Khelif.

The Paris prosecutor’s office is investigating the alleged offences.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook