Imane Khelif Sues J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk

Imane Khelif has filed a lawsuit accusing J.K. Rowling and X owner Elon Musk of cyberbullying during the Paris 2024 Olympics. Khelif won gold in Paris but faced disqualification from last year’s World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) over gender eligibility issues. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) defended her right to compete and declared her eligible for the Olympics.

Khelif’s lawyer, Nabil Boudi told Variety that the lawsuit targets comments Musk and Rowling made on social media. The lawsuit follows intense online debates about Khelif, especially after Italian boxer Angela Carini withdrew from their bout after 46 seconds. The Paris public prosecutor’s office has opened a cyberbullying investigation based on Khelif’s complaint.

A French legal blogger noted that French penal law may not cover acts committed abroad, but charges might arise for messages sent from French territory. The IOC allowed Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting to compete in Paris after challenging the IBA’s eligibility criteria. IOC President Thomas Bach stressed the importance of allowing women to compete in women’s events, affirming Khelif’s and Lin’s eligibility.

Both Musk and Rowling made comments about Khelif; Rowling criticized Khelif’s reaction after the fight with Carini, while Musk shared a post questioning the presence of transgender women in women’s sports. After winning the Olympic gold, Khelif said that overcoming attacks related to her gender eligibility made her victory particularly significant.

She reaffirmed her identity, stating she was born, lived, and competed as a woman. Carini later apologized for her actions following the bout. The IOC criticized the IBA’s disqualification of Khelif and Lin, raising doubts about the tests used to determine eligibility.