Imane Khelif Takes Legal Action Amid Online Harassment Following Historic Olympic Gold

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who made history as the first Algerian woman to win an Olympic gold in boxing at the Paris 2024 Games, has filed a formal legal complaint over online harassment. Her lawyer, Nabil Boudi, confirmed that the complaint was lodged on Friday, following a wave of negative social media scrutiny.

The controversy erupted after Khelif’s decisive victory over Italian boxer Angela Carini, who claimed the match ended too quickly, alleging she “never felt a punch like this.”

This sparked intense debate and unwarranted attacks on Khelif’s gender identity. Despite the backlash, Khelif secured her gold medal by defeating world champion Yang Liu of China in the 66kg category final.

Khelif, addressing the criticism, stated, “All that is being said about me on social media is immoral. I want to change the minds of people around the world.”

She affirmed her identity and qualifications, emphasizing her commitment and dedication to the sport.

The controversy also ties back to the 2023 World Boxing Championship, where Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting were initially disqualified by the International Boxing Association (IBA) due to the presence of XY chromosomes.

However, after the IBA lost its status as the global governing body, the International Olympic Association deemed both athletes eligible to compete.

Khelif’s legal move highlights the ongoing challenges and scrutiny faced by athletes amid contentious issues surrounding gender and eligibility.

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