Imane Khelif Names Elon Musk and JK Rowling in Cyberbullying Lawsuit

Algerian boxer and Olympic champion Imane Khelif spent much of the Paris Olympics embroiled in controversy. Following Khelif’s win against Italy’s Angela Carini, who quit the match 46 seconds in, rumors about Khelif’s gender quickly swirled around the internet.

After Carini forfeit the match, misinformation began to spread that Khelif—who was born a biological woman and identifies as female—was actually transgender and boxing unfairly in the women’s category. 

Internet trolls cited the fact that both Khelif and Tawainese boxer Lin Yu-ting were disqualified from the 2023 International Boxing Association’s World Championship when tests found they had elevated levels of testosterone—a natural occurrence for many biological women. 

It is also worth noting that the International Boxing Association is no longer recognized by the International Federation of Boxing over ethics practices. 

Both athletes have always fought in women’s categories and were cleared to box in the Paris Olympics. 

Last week, Khelif filed a legal complaint alleging “aggressive cyber-harassment.” Harry Potter author JK Rowling and tech billionaire Elon Musk are both mentioned in the lawsuit, although no there are no defendants listed by name. 

Rowling, who has been at the center of recent controversy for transphobic online posts, posted a picture of the Khelif/Carini match on the social platform X and captioned it as Khelif “enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head.” 

Meanwhile, Musk, the owner of X, reposted a statement from a collegiate swimmer claiming Khelif was transgender. 

“The boxer Imane Khelif has decided to begin a new fight, a fight for justice, dignity and honour,” Khelif’s lawyer, Nabil Boudi stated in a press release.

“All that is being said about me on social media is immoral. I want to change the minds of people around the world,” Khelif said.

The rumors were “fuelled by malicious individuals,” Boudi insisted. “The investigation will determine who was behind this misogynist, racist and sexist campaign but will also have to concern itself with those who fed the online lynching.”

In an interview with the Associated Press, Khelif said, “I send a message to all the people of the world to uphold the Olympic principles and the Olympic Charter, to refrain from bullying all athletes, because this has effects, massive effects.”

The boxer continued in Arabic, “It can destroy people, it can kill people’s thoughts, spirit and mind. It can divide people. And because of that, I ask them to refrain from bullying.”