Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who made history by winning the gold medal in the women's welterweight category at the Paris 2024 Olympics, has filed a lawsuit following a gender controversy that surrounded her throughout the Games. Despite facing accusations of being a "biological male," Khelif remained focused on her performances and chose not to engage with the chatter. However, after the conclusion of the Games, she decided to take legal action against those who harassed her online.

Khelif’s lawyer, Nabil Boudi, revealed that the lawsuit names several prominent figures, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and British author J.K. Rowling, who allegedly contributed to the online abuse. The lawsuit was filed with a special unit in the Paris prosecutor's office that deals with combating online hate.

Khelif's victory in Paris marked a significant achievement as she became Algeria's first female boxer to win an Olympic gold medal. However, the controversy surrounding her gender, which had been sparked by her disqualification from the women’s World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) for allegedly failing a gender eligibility test, continued to cast a shadow over her success.

Boudi described the online harassment as "misogynist, racist, and sexist," and stated that the legal complaint could expand to include more individuals as the investigation progresses. Both Musk and Rowling had referred to Khelif as a "male" on social media, with Rowling accusing her of "enjoying the distress of a woman" after defeating Italy's Angela Carini. Former U.S. President Donald Trump also weighed in, stating his opposition to "men in women’s sports" on his Truth Social platform.

Khelif, who had remained silent on the matter during the competition, finally spoke out after securing her gold medal, affirming her identity as a woman and condemning those who questioned it. "Now the whole world knows the story of Imane Khelif," she said. "I'm fully qualified, I'm a woman, I was born a woman, and I lived as a woman. There’s no doubt about that."

Khelif emphasized the importance of upholding the Olympic charter and values, expressing hope that future Games would not be marred by similar attacks.