Olympic boxer Imane Khelif has named Telsa CEO Elon Musk and award-winning author JK Rowling in a lawsuit filed to French authorities.
The 25-year-old raised concern over alleged “acts of aggravated cyber harassment” after her participation in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games led to outcry.
French attorney Nabil Boudi told Variety that the pair were named in the criminal complaint.
Boudi also claimed that Khelif filed the lawsuit as part of her “fight for justice, dignity and honour”.
Olympic boxer Imane Khelif brings up Elon Musk and JK Rowling as lawsuit launchedGETTYThe lawsuit included Musk’s social media network X, ensuring it covers “unknown persons” as per French law.
Boudi said: “JK Rowling and Elon Musk are named in the lawsuit, among others.”
Legal repercussions for cyber-bullying offences in France include prison sentences stretchning from two to five years and fines ranging from £26,000 to £39,000.
Perpetrators could also be fined anywhere between £64,000 to £214,000 for online hate speech.
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Donald Trump Reuters“Trump tweeted, so whether or not he is named in our lawsuit, he will inevitably be looked into as part of the prosecution,” Boudi added.
Khelif snatched gold in the women’s 66 kilogram competition.
The Algerian boxer, who is not transgender, allegedly has male “XY chromosomes”.
It resulted in her disqualification from the 2023 World Championships when she failed unspecified gender eligibility tests enforced by the now-banned International Boxing Association.
JK Rowling was outraged by Khelif’s inclusion in the Olympic Games.
Imane Khelif was too strong for Angela Carini in their Olympics clash on ThursdayREUTERSThe Harry Potter author shared a photo Khelif's fight with Italy's Angela Carini, accusing the Algerian of being a man who was “enjoying the distress of a woman he's just punched in the head”.
Musk shared swimmer Riley Gaines' post that claimed “men don't belong in women's sports” and voiced support for the sentiment.
Ex-President Donald Trump added: “I will keep men out of women's sports.”
Khelif’s inclusion prompted particular backlash after the 25-year-old defeated Carini within 46 seconds, leaving the Italian with a suspected broken nose.
However, the IOC said at the time: “Every person has the right to practice sport without discrimination.”
It added: “The IOC is saddened by the abuse that the two athletes are currently receiving.”
