A legal complaint has been lodged by the Algerian female boxer at the heart of a gender dispute during the Paris Olympics, alleging that she has been subjected to cyberbullying.
Imane Khelif’s attorney, Nabil Boudi, confirmed that the complaint was submitted to the Paris Prosecutor’s Office on Friday.
The boxer, who clinched a gold medal, expressed on Saturday: “The unethical remarks circulating about me on social media need to cease. I aim to shift global perceptions.”
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Boxer’s father: ‘My child is a girl’
Khelif was awarded the title of Olympic champion on Friday following a convincing victory over China’s Yang Liu by unanimous decision in the women’s welterweight final to secure the gold medal.
Winning all three rounds on the judges’ scorecards, she ecstatically embraced her trainer upon the announcement of her victory. Her trainer jubilantly paraded the 25-year-old around the arena on his shoulders in celebration.
“My dream for the past eight years has been achieved – I am now an Olympic champion and a gold medalist,” Khelif conveyed through an interpreter.
Addressing the controversy, she told journalists: “This triumph holds greater significance due to the challenges I faced.”
“I am fully compliant to participate in this competition,” she asserted. “I am a woman like any other, born and living as a woman, fully eligible.”
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Following a preceding fighter’s resignation just 46 seconds into the bout to safeguard her well-being against the powerful punches of the Algerian, Khelif faced heightened monitoring.
Khelif mentioned that securing the gold medal would be the “most fitting response” to her critics.
Critics contended that she should have been barred from competition due to suspicions of heightened testosterone levels potentially leading to increased strength and muscle mass, posing a threat to opponents.
Last year, both Khelif and a Taiwanese boxer were excluded from the world championships after failing gender eligibility assessments by the International Boxing Association (IBA).
Nevertheless, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) criticized the abrupt and unjust nature of the decision, pointing out fundamental flaws in the testing process.
As a result of governance concerns, alleged corruption, and ties to Russia, the IBA has been suspended by the IOC.
