The attorney representing Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif has announced that former President Donald Trump’s misleading comments regarding Khelif’s gender will be part of the ongoing investigation into her recent online harassment lawsuit, as reported by Variety.
Khelif filed her lawsuit on Friday with a special unit of the public prosecutor’s office in Paris, prompted by false claims that circulated online following her victory over Italian boxer Angela Carini in the first round of the 2024 Olympics. Carini withdrew just 46 seconds into the bout, remarking afterwards that she had “never felt a punch like this.”
This match reignited previous questions about Khelif’s gender, especially since she had been barred from competing in the World Championships last year after failing an unspecified sex-verification test conducted by the International Boxing Association (IBA). The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has questioned the credibility of these tests, which have also affected Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting, who was disqualified from the 2023 Championship. It’s worth noting that the IBA has since lost its status as the boxing authority under the IOC.
On Friday, Khelif made history by winning gold in the women’s welterweight division, marking Algeria’s first Olympic medal in women’s boxing. Yu-ting also captured gold in the women’s flyweight division the following day.
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Khelif’s lawsuit alleges “aggravated cyber-harassment.” Her attorney, Nabil Boudi, mentioned that the suit is directed against X (formerly Twitter), categorized under French law as filed against unknown individuals. Hence, the Paris prosecutor’s office will investigate potential culpable parties related to Khelif’s claims.
Boudi indicated that Trump’s comments would be scrutinized, stating, “Trump tweeted, so whether or not he is named in our lawsuit, he will inevitably be looked into as part of the prosecution.”
Since the match with Carini, Trump has made various remarks regarding Khelif’s gender identity. During a rally on August 3, he made comments about the athletes, suggesting that Khelif was a transitioned male boxer, saying, “He hit her with two jabs and she said, ‘I’m out.'” More recently, at a rally in Montana, he sarcastically congratulated Khelif, referring to her transition.
In addition to Trump, the lawsuit also mentions author J.K. Rowling and billionaire Elon Musk. Rowling has stirred controversy with her views on transgender issues, sharing her thoughts on Khelif’s Olympic participation. Musk responded affirmatively to a post echoing sentiments that men should not compete in women’s sports, linking his views to Khelif’s situation.
Carini expressed her regret over the situation, stating, “I also felt sorry for my opponent… she had nothing to do with it and like me was only here to fight.” She emphasized that her actions during the match were not intentional and that she harbored no ill feelings toward Khelif.
In her own words after securing her gold medal, Khelif defended her identity by stating, “I’m a woman like any other woman. I was born as a woman, I live as a woman, and I am qualified.”