Imane Khelif speaks for first time since naming JK Rowling and Elon Musk in lawsuit as gender row boxer - who won Olympic gold in Paris - admits she was 'hurt' by abuse

Controversial Olympic gold medal boxer Imane Khelif has spoken for the first time since referencing Elon Musk and JK Rowling in a cyberbullying lawsuit over comments made about her gender.

Khelif and Taiwan boxer Lin Yu-ting were at the centre of a 'gender row' controversy at the Olympics after both were given the green light to compete despite failing gender eligibility tests at last year's world championships.

The fallout prompted outcries of fury from the Harry Potter author and Tesla founder on social media amongst others, while Donald Trump also taunted the Algerian fighter.

Khelif and Yu-ting both went all the way to winning top Olympic gongs in their respective weight categories as their participation was defended by IOC president Thomas Bach.

Nabil Boudi, Khelif's Paris-based attorney, has since revealed they have now opened a lawsuit that has been filed to French authorities over comments made about her gender online. No individuals have been named as defendants in the lawsuit but a number of well-known celebrities have been referenced for their social media posts.

Imane Khelif (pictured) has spoken for the first time since naming Elon Musk and JK Rowling in a cyberbullying lawsuit

Khelif was at the centre of a 'gender row' controversy at the Olympics after being allowed to compete in women's boxing

The 25-year-old Olympic champion admitted that she was left 'hurt' by comments over her gender

'J. K. Rowling (pictured) and Elon Musk are named in the lawsuit, among others,' Khelif's lawyer wrote on X

The 25-year-old Olympic champion has now revealed that she was 'hurt a lot' by intense scrutiny of her gender and questioned the intentions of those who she believes have harassed her.

'But immediately after there was a big uproar from big politicians around the world, athletes around the world, and even artists and stars, Elon Musk, Trump.. this thing..... that affected me,' she told El Birad.

'I am not lying to you, it affected me. It affected me a lot, hurt me a lot. I can't describe to you the amount of fear I had.

'The scenario was very scary. Thank god, all the people of Algeria and the Arab world knew Imane Khelif with her femininity, her courage, her will,' said the Algerian boxer.

'Honestly, I don't like to get into politics in sports, but they got into politics in sports. Sports and politics are two separate things. These politicians who are oppressing me, they don't have the right to say that I'm a transgender.

Khelif's attorney Nabil Boudi explained that he hopes the 'prosecution [will] investigate against all people' after naming Musk (pictured)

Khelif, who is not a transgender woman, allegedly has male 'XY chromosomes' - a point that was scrutinised on social media by those calling for her to not be allowed to fight at the Olympics.

Possible repercussions for cyber-bullying offences in France are prison sentences ranging from two to five years and fines ranging from £26,000 to £39,000. 

If prosecuted as online hate speech, perpetrators could even be fined £64,000 to £214,000.

Khelif's success in the women's 66kg category at the Paris Games was wildly celebrated by Algeria, with the boxer given the honour of carrying her nation's flag at the closing ceremony.