Elon Musk and J.K. Rowling are named in Imane Khelif’s lawsuit.

Elon Musk and J.K. Rowling have been mentioned in a complaint brought by Olympic gold medalist Imane Khelif in France, while former US President Donald Trump will be probed for an online statement he made regarding critiques and claims of sexism leveled at Khelif.

A few days after Imane Khelif filed a legal complaint with the Paris prosecutor’s office’s anti-hate internet unit, high-profile people such Elon Musk and J.K. Rowling were implicated in the case. The complaint was filed against an unidentified person or entity known as “X.” Attorney Nabil Boudi revealed that Musk and Rowling are among those named in the complaint.

Attorney Boudi also stated that former President Trump will be probed in relation to his tweet on the subject, however it is unclear whether he will be officially mentioned in the lawsuit. “Trump tweeted, so whether or not he is named in our lawsuit, he will inevitably be looked into as part of the prosecution,” Boudi told me.

Before winning a gold medal at the Paris Olympics in the 66kg weight division, Khelif allegedly failed a gender test at the 2023 International Boxing Association (IBA). Her rapid victory over Italian boxer Angela Carini, who withdrew from their battle after 46 seconds, sparked widespread criticism and anger, possibly due to the gender eligibility charges. Despite being born female and never identifying as transgender or intersex, Khelif was subjected to numerous accusations and harassment online. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) stated, “Scientifically, this is not a man fighting a woman.”

Following Carini’s resignation, J.K. Rowling took to social media, writing: “The concept that those opposing a guy striking a female in the sake of sport are objecting because they believe Khelif is ‘trans’ is a joke. We objected because we observed a man strike a woman.”

As other notable figures weighed in, the debate heated up. Rowling, who has 14.2 million followers, tweeted a picture of Khelif’s fight against Carini, writing, “Enjoying the distress of a woman he has just punched in the head.” After the competition, Riley Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer, tweeted, “Men don’t belong in women’s sports #IStandWithAngelaCarini.” Elon Musk subsequently shared Gaines’ tweet, saying, “Absolutely.” Trump also stepped in, posting a photo of the fight with the message, “I will keep men out of women’s sports.”

Logan Paul, another well-known individual, stated on his social media page, “This is the purest form of evil unfolding right in front of our eyes.” A guy was permitted to beat a woman on a gold stage, destroying her lifelong goal while fighting for her late father. This fantasy must cease.” Paul eventually removed the tweet, acknowledging, “I might be guilty of spreading misinformation.” Attorney Boudi stated that such apologies would have no effect on the ongoing investigation because the facts remained the same.

Boudi added, “What we are asking is that the prosecution investigate not only these people, but anyone it deems necessary.” If the case goes to court, they will face trial.”

Although the complaint was brought in France, Boudi stated that it could have international significance. The French prosecutor’s office for combatting internet hate speech may seek mutual legal help from other nations, including the United States. He also stated that, while lawmakers are responsible for imposing fines on platforms, judicial authorities are increasingly considering cyber harassment cases seriously, with some culminating in prison sentences.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has defended its decision to allow Imane Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting to compete in the Summer Games. The IOC issued a statement following Khelif’s first fight, saying, “We have observed incorrect information in stories about two female athletes competing at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. For many years, the two athletes have competed in international boxing competitions for women, including the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the International Boxing Association (IBA) World Championships, and IBA-sanctioned tournaments. The IBA made a quick and unjustified judgment that affected these two sportsmen. They were abruptly disqualified without proper process toward the end of the 2023 IBA World Championship.

Khelif’s coach expressed concern over the online harassment Khelif has faced and its impact on her, hoping for justice to be served. While the case is ongoing, Khelif returned home to a hero’s welcome for the gold medal she won.