The Algerian boxer at the centre of a gender row at the Paris Olympics has filed a legal complaint saying she has been a victim of online harassment.
Imane Khelif’s lawyer Nabil Boudi said the complaint was filed with the Paris Prosecutor’s Office on Friday.
On Saturday, the gold-winning boxer said: “All that is being said about me on social media is immoral. I want to change the minds of people around the world.”
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Khelif was crowned an Olympic champion on Friday after comfortably beating China’s Yang Liu by unanimous decision to win gold in the women’s welterweight final.
She won each of the three rounds on the judges’ scorecards and jumped into the arms of her trainer when the decision was announced. He carried the 25-year-old around the arena on his shoulders in celebration.
“For eight years, this has been my dream, and I’m now the Olympic champion and gold medalist,” Khelif said through an interpreter.
Asked about the row, she told reporters: “That also gives my success a special taste because of those attacks.”
“I’m fully qualified to take part in this competition,” she added. “I’m a woman like any other woman. I was born as a woman, I live as a woman, and I am qualified.”
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Khelif had been under intense scrutiny after a previous fighter quit after 46 seconds, saying it was to protect her health as the Algerian’s punches were so strong.
Khelif had said winning gold would be the “best response” to her critics.
Some argued she should not have been allowed to compete due to concerns she might have elevated testosterone that can lead to extra strength and muscle – potentially endangering her opponent.
Khelif and a Taiwanese boxer were banned from the world championships last year, with the International Boxing Association (IBA) saying they failed gender eligibility tests.
However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said the decision was “sudden and arbitrary” and the tests were majorly flawed.
It has banned the IBA over governance issues, alleged corruption and ties to Russia.
Source Agencies
