PARIS -- French prosecutors opened an investigation into an online harassment complaint made by Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif after a torrent of criticism and false claims about her sex during the Summer Games , the Paris prosecutor's office said Wednesday.

Imane Khelif's attorney, Nabil Boudi, filed a formal complaint with the Paris prosecutor's office, specifically targeting their unit that combats online hate speech. This occurred on Friday.

Boudi stated that Khelif faced a “misogynistic, racist, and sexist campaign” during her gold-winning performance in the women’s welterweight division. This victory elevated her to hero status in her native Algeria and brought global attention to the sport of women's boxing .

The prosecutor's office confirmed receipt of the complaint and announced that its Office for the Fight against Crimes against Humanity and Hate Crime has initiated an investigation. The charges are “cyber harassment based on gender, public insults based on gender, public incitement to discrimination, and public insults on the basis of origin.”

Khelif was thrust into the center of a global debate surrounding gender identity and sports regulations after her first fight in Paris. Her Italian opponent, Angela Carini, withdrew from the match mere seconds after its start, citing pain from Khelif's initial punches.

Online, false accusations emerged alleging that Khelif was transgender or a man. In response, the International Olympic Committee defended her and condemned those spreading misinformation. Khelif stated that the dissemination of misconceptions about her “harms human dignity.”

Among those who disseminated false information about the athlete were Donald Trump, Elon Musk and J. K. Rowling.

Khelif's legal action was filed against social media platforms, including “X,” rather than a specific individual, a common practice under French law which allows investigators to determine the responsible party or organization.

The Paris prosecutor’s office did not disclose any specific suspects.

This development came just two days after Khelif returned to Algeria, where she’s anticipated to meet with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and be greeted by her family in her hometown of Ain Mesbah.

In Algeria, Khelif's former coach Mustapha Bensaou stated that the boxer's legal action in France was initiated by Algerian authorities and should “serve as a lesson in safeguarding the rights and honor (of athletes) in Algeria and worldwide.”

“All those involved in this act will face legal consequences for violating Imane’s dignity and honor,” Bensaou stated in an interview with The Associated Press. He further added: “The attacks aimed at Imane were intended to break her spirit and undermine her confidence. Thankfully, she emerged victorious."

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Associated Press Olympics Coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games