French prosecutors have initiated an investigation into a complaint filed by Algerian boxer and Olympic gold medalist Imane Khelif regarding online harassment related to her gender and participation in the Paris Games.
The Paris public prosecutor’s office confirmed receipt of Khelif’s complaint on Monday and referred the matter to the OCLCH (Central Office for Combating Crimes against Humanity and Hate Crimes) for investigation. The charges being investigated include cyberbullying based on gender, public insult based on gender, public provocation to discrimination, and public insult based on origin.
According to the Associated Press, under French law, it will be up to prosecutors to determine who may be held responsible for the harassment.
The OCLCH confirmed that it is conducting the investigation but stated that it cannot provide a copy of the complaint due to the confidentiality of the ongoing investigation.
On Sunday, Khelif’s attorney, Nabil Boudi, announced on Instagram that their firm had submitted the complaint to the online hate unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office. Boudi described the harassment faced by the boxing champion as the most significant negative aspect of the Olympic Games.
Khelif, who secured a gold medal on Friday, encountered a wave of negative attention on social media during the Games. Her initial match in the 66-kilogram division ended quickly when her opponent, Angela Carini of Italy, forfeited within 46 seconds after receiving several powerful punches from Khelif. This incident drew attention to a decision made by the International Boxing Association to disqualify Khelif and another boxer, Lin Yu-ting, from its world championships last year.
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The International Boxing Association claimed that Khelif and Lin had unfair advantages over other female boxers based on undisclosed tests conducted during their tournament. The IOC refuted these claims, attributing them to the IBA’s organizational issues rather than authoritative decision-making in women’s sports.
This situation sparked debates among sports enthusiasts and advocates on sensitive topics like inclusion, fairness, and the scientific complexities of sex. Many individuals online made incorrect and critical remarks about Khelif, prompting Boudi to denounce the online campaign as “misogynistic, racist, and sexist.”
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(Photo: Ulrik Pedersen / DeFodi Images via Getty Images)