Olympic boxing gold medalist Imane Khelif filed a legal complaint in France for online harassment over her sex during the Paris Games, her lawyer said, per the Associated Press.
Khelif won gold for Algeria in the women’s welterweight division, but received a torrent of criticism over an alleged failed gender test at a 2023 International Boxing Association competition.
The IBA test was carried out on unspecified grounds and came after Khelif defeated a Russian opponent. The IBA has been criticized for its ties to Russia and has no role in the Olympics.
Khelif is listed as female on her passport and the IOC has called the IBA’s sex tests flawed, defending both Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, who is in the same situation.
Yu-ting won gold Saturday in the featherweight division.
The complaint was filed Friday with a special unit in the Paris prosecutor’s office and alleged “aggravated cyber-harassment” targeting Khelif, her lawyer told the AP, describing a “misogynist, racist and sexist campaign” against her.
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The prosecutors will decide whether to open an investigation.
Kirsty Burrows, the official in charge of the IOC’s unit for safeguarding and mental health, had already filed a complaint last week over alleged death threats and online harassment after speaking in Khelif’s defense.
According to the AP, agents from the National Unit for the Fight against Online Hate are investigating offenses including death threats, public provocations aimed at attacking a person and cyberbullying.
If proven, the crimes carry 2-5 year prison sentences and fines of 30,000-45,000 euros under French law.
