Algerian Boxer Imane Khelif Sues Elon Musk And JK Rowling Over Cyberbullying In Olympic Gender Controversy

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has filed a cyberbullying lawsuit against Elon Musk and JK Rowling, among others, following a gender controversy that dominated headlines during the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The lawsuit, submitted on Friday, accuses several individuals of “aggravated cyber-harassment” targeting Khelif. Her lawyer, Nabil Boudi, condemned the actions as part of a “misogynist, racist, and sexist campaign.”

The case gained attention after American swimmer Riley Gaines posted a picture of Khelif with the caption, “Men don’t belong in women’s sports.”

Musk amplified the message by resharing it with the comment, “Absolutely.” Rowling also criticized Khelif’s participation in the event, accusing her of benefiting from a “misogynist sporting establishment.”

This controversy follows Khelif’s earlier disqualification from the women’s World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) due to a failed gender eligibility test. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) later cleared her to continue competing in the Olympics.

Tensions escalated when Italy’s Angela Carini withdrew from her Round of 16 match against Khelif after just 46 seconds, citing the impact of Khelif’s powerful punches. Despite the backlash, IOC President Thomas Bach defended Khelif, stating that women have the right to compete in women’s sports.

Khelif went on to make history as the first Algerian woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing, defeating China’s Yang Liu 5-0 in the final. Reflecting on her victory, Khelif remarked, “Now the whole world knows the story of Imane Khelif.”

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