Imane Khelif name Elon Musk and JK Rowling in cyberbullying lawsuit after Olympics controversy
Imane Khelif has launched legal action over the backlash she faced at the Olympics
REUTERS
Both Elon Musk and J.K. Rowling have been named in a cyberbullying lawsuit filed by Imane Khelif following the abuse she received throughout the Paris Olympics.
Khelif competed at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago to zero furore, but her participation in Paris caused a stir due to her failing an unspecified gender eligibility test administered by the International Boxing Association (IBA) at the women's world championships in 2023.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) disputed the test and questioned its legitimacy and ruled her eligible to compete in Paris.
Khelif's participation led to a gender row erupting at the Olympics and she faced heavy abuse online.
The Algerian, who went on to win Olympic gold in the women's 66kg category, has now filed a cyberbullying lawsuit to the Paris public prosecutor's office.
Khelif's lawyer, Nabil Boudi, told Variety that both Musk and Rowling were named in the lawsuit after comments they both made on social media.
"JK Rowling and Elon Musk are named in the lawsuit, among others," he said.
"Trump tweeted, so whether or not he is named in our lawsuit, he will inevitably be looked into as part of the prosecution.
"What we’re asking is that the prosecution investigates not only these people but whoever it feels necessary."
They added: "If the case goes to court, they will stand trial."
Rowling referred to Khelif as a 'male punching a female' to her 14.2 million followers on X and repeatedly target the Algerian throughout the Olympics.
Musk also shared a post from Riley Gaines in which she claimed 'men don’t belong in women’s sports', adding: "Absolutely."
Elon Musk was among those to refer to Imane Khelif as a man
GETTy
IOC president Thomas Bach attempted to defend Khelif and Lin Yu-ting, the other boxer at the centre of the gender eligibility row, throughout the Games.
He took aim at the IBA for creating a media storm and tried to downplay the test results from the Russian-backed organisation.
“This is not a question of inclusion, this has never played a role in all this, this is a question of justice: women must be allowed to take part in women’s competitions. And the two are women.
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J.K. Rowling caused a stir online with her comments
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“It is not as easy (as those) in this cultural war may want to portray it, that the XX or XY is the clear distinction between men and women.
“This is scientifically not true anymore. Therefore these two are women and they have the right to participate in the women’s competition.
"This has nothing to do with inclusion in any way.”
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