Paris-based attorney Nabil Boudi confirmed that J.K. Rowling, Elon Musk, and Donald Trump are among those mentioned in a criminal complaint filed by Algerian boxer and Olympic gold medalist, Imane Khelif, for alleged acts of aggravated cyber harassment. The lawsuit, which was submitted anonymously, is aimed at unknown individuals, allowing investigators the flexibility to probe all potential perpetrators, including those who may have used pseudonyms.

The controversy surrounding Khelif's gender eligibility during the 2024 Olympics in Paris gained international attention, despite her being born female and not identifying as transgender or intersex. Despite backing from the International Olympic Committee, who asserted that there was no scientific basis for the accusations, Khelif faced a barrage of abuse and accusations related to her gender, primarily through social media platforms like Twitter. High-profile figures, including J.K. Rowling, Elon Musk, and Donald Trump, escalated the issue by sharing derogatory messages about the athlete.

Rowling, with her 14.2 million followers, shared a picture from Khelif's fight with Italian boxer Angela Carini, accusing her of being a man enjoying the distress of a woman he had just punched. Meanwhile, Tesla CEO Elon Musk co-signed a post from swimmer Riley Gaines, stating that men do not belong in women's sports, adding, "Absolutely." Former U.S. President Donald Trump also joined the fray, posting a message with a picture from the fight, accompanied by the statement, "I will keep men out of women's sports!"

While the lawsuit specifically mentions these individuals, attorney Nabil Boudi emphasized that the investigation would target anyone deemed necessary by the prosecution. If the case proceeds to court, those mentioned would potentially stand trial. Boudi also highlighted that the lawsuit could potentially extend beyond France, with the possibility for the Paris public prosecutor's office to seek mutual legal assistance from other countries, including the U.S., where agreements exist for combating online hate speech.

Logan Paul, another public figure who attacked Khelif on social media, posted derogatory comments following her win against Carini, stating, "This is the purest form of evil unfolding right before our eyes." However, Boudi noted that apologies, including those received personally by Khelif, would not affect the ongoing investigation, as the facts remain unchanged.

The lawsuit primarily targets the authors of the harmful social media posts, rather than the platforms themselves, as Boudi believes it is the responsibility of lawmakers to impose sanctions on the platforms. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that cyber harassment cases are now being taken more seriously by judicial authorities, with some cases resulting in prison sentences.

Imane Khelif's coach, Pedro Diaz, expressed that the bullying experienced by the athlete during the Olympics had a profound impact on her and those around her. Diaz, who has trained 21 Olympic champions, commenced working with Khelif in February 2023 at Miami-based Mundo Boxing Gym. He advised her to avoid social media to maintain her focus on winning the gold medal, highlighting her intelligence, motivation, and the significant achievement of her gold medal victory, which he described as the most rewarding victory of his coaching career.