Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif has filed a criminal complaint in France, citing “acts of aggravated cyber harassment” against several high-profile figures, including celebrity author J.K. Rowling, billionaire Elon Musk, and former U.S. President Donald Trump. The lawsuit follows a wave of online criticism and harassment directed at Khelif after her 46-second victory over Italian boxer Angela Carini in Paris.
Khelif’s attorney, Nabil Boudi, confirmed the inclusion of these prominent figures in the lawsuit. “J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk are named in the lawsuit, among others,” Boudi stated, adding that Trump’s involvement on social media would also be scrutinized as part of the investigation.
The complaint, filed under French law against unknown persons, grants the prosecution broad authority to investigate all individuals involved. Boudi emphasized that the legal action could extend internationally, allowing French prosecutors to request assistance from other countries.
The backlash against Khelif intensified after her dominant win, with social media platforms, particularly X (formerly known as Twitter), being the primary avenue for the attacks. In one notable instance, Rowling posted a photo from Khelif’s fight, accusing the Algerian boxer of being a man and “enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head.” Musk, the owner of X, also shared a post asserting that “men don’t belong in women’s sports,” to which he added his agreement.
Former President Trump also weighed in, posting an image from the fight with a message pledging to “keep men out of women’s sports.”
In response to the escalating harassment, Algerians rallied in support of Khelif, defending her against what they perceived as racially motivated attacks. Khelif’s trainer, Georges Cazorla, revealed that medical tests had confirmed Khelif’s identity as a woman, despite irregularities in her hormone levels and chromosomes. He noted that ongoing treatment had aligned her testosterone levels within the female norm.
The situation has sparked a broader discussion on gender and fairness in sports, with differing opinions among coaches and athletes. Spanish national coach Rafa Lozano highlighted the challenges of finding suitable sparring partners for Khelif, describing difficulties in pairing her with other female boxers due to the risk of injury.