An emotional Imane Khelif has hit out at Elon Musk for leading a “cruel” campaign against her during this summer’s Olympics.
The Algerian boxer, competing in the women’s welterweight category, claimed a gold medal in Paris despite fierce controversy surrounding her gender that dominated headlines during the Games.
Khelif was allowed to compete at the Olympics just a year after being banned from the World Boxing Championships for allegedly failing tests that showed she has ‘XY’ male chromosomes, a decision that sparked outrage around the world.
However, the International Boxing Association – the organisation that sanctions world championships – has never presented any scientific evidence to support its claims.
Despite being born a woman, Khelif was the subject of unproven accusations and abuse during the Olympics, with Musk even joining in at one point.
An emotional Imane Khelif (left) has slammed Elon Musk for leading a “cruel” campaign against her during this summer’s Olympics.
Billionaire X, who along with Donald Trump has reportedly been named in a cyberbullying lawsuit filed by Khelif, cited a post on his own platform calling for men to be banned from women’s sports in light of her round-of-16 win over Italy’s Angela Carini.
In an interview on a French television show CLIQUEKhelif fought back tears after being asked about how Musk invited further abuse with his post about her on X.
“Elon Musk was one of the first to attack me during this hate campaign,” he said. “He posted this video and it was retweeted. So he was one of the first to spread this campaign against me.”
“I would say… you hate me but you don’t even know me. I don’t even know why you led this attack. You’ve been cruel to me, cruel to my family, to my mother.
‘At that time, my mother went to the hospital every day.’
Khelif paused to wipe away tears before adding: “I don’t understand people’s behaviour today. God is my guide, I am a practising Muslim woman. I am an Arab Muslim woman and I got through this moment.
Musk agreed with a post by Riley Gaines calling for men to be banned from women’s sports after Khelif’s win over Italy’s Angela Carini
Khelif fought back tears after speaking out about the abuse she suffered over the summer.
The Algerian boxer won gold despite being at the centre of a fierce controversy over her gender
“I hope to be even stronger in the future and come back even more motivated.”
Another high-profile figure to claim Khelif is a man was Donald Trump, who also came under fire from the Olympic champion last month.
He has since filed a cyberbullying lawsuit in France, which apparently also names JK Rowling, as well as Musk and Trump. And it did not prevent the latter from getting angry at him in an interview in Algeria with El Birad.
“Immediately afterwards there was a lot of noise from politicians, athletes, stars, artists: Elon Musk and Donald Trump, and that hurt me a lot, I can’t describe how scared I was,” said the 25-year-old.
‘This affected me. I’m not lying to you, it affected me a lot. It hurt me a lot. I can’t describe the fear I had, but thank God I was able to overcome it. Thank God, all the people of Algeria and the Arab world knew Imane Khelif for her femininity, her courage, her will.’