French authorities have initiated a cyberbullying investigation following a complaint from Algerian Olympic boxing champion, Imane Khelif who became embroiled in a gender controversy during the Paris Olympic Games.
The Paris public prosecutor’s office confirmed the probe on Wednesday.
The controversy, which has sparked widespread debate beyond the sports world, involves notable figures such as Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Khelif, 25, filed a complaint last week, with her lawyer, Nabil Boudi emphasizing that it was a “fight for justice” against what he described as a “misogynist, racist, and sexist campaign.”
The investigation, handled by the Central Office for Combating Crimes against Humanity and Hate Crimes, will seek to identify those responsible for the online harassment. According to reports, the complaint may also involve high-profile individuals like Trump and Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.
Khelif, who won the women’s 66kg final at the Paris Olympics, has faced intense scrutiny over her gender eligibility, a topic that has ignited fierce debate. Despite being disqualified from last year’s world championships after failing gender tests, she was cleared to compete in Paris, where she secured victory against China’s Yang Liu.
The controversy reached a peak after Khelif’s quick victory over Italy’s Angela Carini, prompting criticism from figures like Trump, who vowed to “keep men out of women’s sports,” and Rowling, who described the bout as an “injustice.”
Khelif, maintaining her stance, declared, “I was born a woman, lived a woman, and competed as a woman,” dismissing the allegations against her. The investigation will also examine claims that Khelif and another athlete were unfairly targeted by the International Boxing Association (IBA).
Upon her return to Algeria, Khelif was celebrated as a national hero, with supporters hailing her victory as a triumph over injustice. The ongoing investigation highlights the complex and highly charged nature of the gender eligibility debate in sports, with potential implications for future Olympic competitions.
