Imane Khelif’s Gender Identity Sparks International Controversy Following Olympic Victory
French authorities have opened a hate crimes investigation into cyberbullying allegations made by Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who claims she was targeted online due to her gender. The Paris prosecutor’s office ordered the investigation on Wednesday, just days after Khelif filed a complaint with France’s national center for combating online hate.
Khelif’s attorney, Nabil Boudi, revealed in an interview with Variety that the criminal complaint specifically names high-profile figures such as J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk. The two are accused of referring to Khelif as a man in their online comments questioning her eligibility to compete in the Olympics. Boudi hinted that former U.S. President Donald Trump could also be implicated, as his tweet on the matter may attract the attention of prosecutors.
The controversy surrounding Khelif, who won the Olympic gold medal in women’s welterweight boxing last Friday, has escalated since she was subjected to scrutiny over her gender. In March 2023, Khelif failed a gender eligibility test, though details remain undisclosed.
The backlash intensified on August 1, when Italian boxer Angela Carini withdrew from her match against Khelif after just 46 seconds, citing the Algerian’s power in the ring. This prompted Italian politicians to question the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to allow Khelif to compete in women’s events.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed concerns about fairness, stating, “Athletes with male genetic characteristics should not compete in women’s events. This is about ensuring fair competition, not discrimination.” Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini echoed this sentiment, condemning the match as “un-Olympic.”
Despite the controversy, the IOC defended its decision, asserting that Khelif is not transgender. “Scientifically, this is not a man fighting a woman,” said IOC spokesperson Mark Adams.
Khelif, undeterred by the criticism, declared after her victory, “I’m a woman like any other woman. I was born a woman, I lived as a woman, I competed as a woman. There’s no doubt about that.” She also acknowledged that the attacks on her gender have made her triumph even more meaningful.
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