Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif has taken a stand against online harassment by filing a legal complaint in France, her lawyer announced on Sunday. Khelif, who recently clinched the women's welterweight gold medal at the Paris Olympics, has become a national hero in Algeria and a symbol of empowerment in women's boxing globally.

According to her lawyer, Nabil Boudi, the complaint was lodged on Friday with a special unit in the Paris prosecutor's office dedicated to combatting online hate speech. Khelif is alleging "aggravated cyber-harassment" as she has been subjected to a barrage of misogynistic, racist, and sexist attacks. It now falls upon the prosecutors to decide whether to launch an official investigation.

The vitriolic campaign targeting Khelif was triggered shortly after her first fight at the Olympics. Her Italian opponent, Angela Carini, withdrew from the match citing pain from opening punches, which unintentionally propelled Khelif into a global controversy surrounding gender identity and sports regulations. False claims questioning Khelif's sex or suggesting she was transgender began to circulate online, prompting the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to defend her and condemn the dissemination of misinformation.

Expressing her concerns, Khelif stated that the spread of misconceptions about her not only harms her personally but also undermines human dignity as a whole. This incident shines a spotlight on the need to address the discrimination and disproportionate scrutiny faced by female athletes of color, particularly in relation to sex testing and unfounded claims about their gender.

In a separate development, Kirsty Burrows, an official responsible for safeguarding and mental health within the IOC, filed her own complaint with French authorities. Burrows asserted that she has been subjected to online harassment and death threats following a press conference in Paris where she spoke out in support of Khelif.

The Paris prosecutor's office has confirmed the receipt of Burrows' complaint on August 4 and stated that it is now being investigated by the National Unit for the Fight against Online Hate. The alleged offenses being examined include death threats, public provocations aimed at attacking a person, and cyberbullying. If proven, these crimes carry prison sentences ranging from two to five years, along with fines ranging from €30,000 to €45,000 under French law.

It is worth noting that the International Boxing Association banned Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting from the world championships last year, citing unspecified eligibility test failures in women's competition. The IOC has consistently defended both athletes since the start of the Paris Games and criticized the arbitrary sex tests imposed by the sport's governing body, deeming them fundamentally flawed.

As the legal proceedings unfold, the importance of addressing online harassment and safeguarding the well-being of athletes is being highlighted. Imane Khelif's brave stance against cyberbullying serves as a reminder that the pursuit of sport should be celebrated and respected, free from discrimination and baseless claims.