In a courageous stand against online harassment, Imane Khelif, the Algerian boxer who recently clinched the gold medal in the women's boxing 66-kilogram division at the Paris Olympics, has filed a complaint with the national center for combating online hate in Paris.

Khelif faced a barrage of bullying and slander on social media during her Olympic journey after her opponent, Italian boxer Angela Carini, abruptly ended their quarter-final match, attributing it to Khelif's powerful punches. However, these baseless claims attracted the attention of notable individuals such as Logan Paul, J.K. Rowling, Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and Italy's prime minister Giorgia Meloni, who wrongly accused Khelif of being a man.

Despite previously being disqualified from the 2023 Women's World Championships due to an elevated testosterone level, Khelif is a naturally born woman who does not identify as transgender or intersex. These controversial figures' misinformed accusations added fuel to the fire, with their posts amassing millions of views.

Following her triumphant victory over China's Yang Liu, Khelif took a bold step by filing a complaint with the national center for combating online hate, a segment of the Paris correctional court. Confirming the action, Khelif's lawyer, Nabil Boudi, announced that the Paris Prosecutor's Office will soon initiate an investigation into the matter.

Khelif's attorney elucidated that his client became a victim of online bullying and was subjected to incessant speculation by malicious individuals, including high-profile political figures. The magnitude of this torment reached unprecedented levels, with some posts garnering over 100 million views.

In an interview with SNTV, Khelif expressed her deep concern over the ordeal, mentioning the distress it caused her family. She delivered a powerful message to people worldwide, calling for the adherence to Olympic principles and the Olympic Charter, urging them to refrain from bullying any athlete. She highlighted the destructive consequences that bullying can have on a person's mental and emotional well-being, and called for unity rather than division. Khelif also expressed her gratitude to the Olympic Committee for standing up for her rights and providing her with justice.

Interestingly, the President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, has questioned the legitimacy of the gender eligibility test that led to Khelif's previous disqualification. Bach insinuated that the controversy surrounding Khelif's gender may have been orchestrated by the International Boxing Association, an organization banned from the Olympics since June 2023 due to its ties to the Kremlin. These claims cast further doubt on the fairness of the previous decision against Khelif.

Apart from Khelif, several other individuals associated with the Paris Olympics have also filed complaints against online bullying. Noteworthy names include Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the opening and closing ceremonies, Thierry Reboul, the executive director, DJ Barbara Butch, and renowned drag queen Nicky Doll.

Imane Khelif's courageous stand against online harassment serves as a reminder that athletes deserve respect and support, rather than baseless criticism. As the investigation unfolds, it is hoped that this case will shed light on the destructive impact of online bullying and further encourage measures to combat it within the sporting community.