Harry Potter author JK Rowling and Tesla billionaire Elon Musk have been named in Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif’s criminal complaint of “aggravated cyber harassment”.

Khelif has returned home to Algeria, to a hero’s welcome, after winning gold in the women’s welterweight division in Paris.

Before she did, however, a French lawyer filed a complaint with a special unit in the Paris prosecutor’s office that fights online hate speech, alleging a campaign of targeted harassment against the boxer.

Lawyer Nabil Boudi described it as a “misogynist, racist and sexist campaign” against Khelif. He said she had decided to “begin a new fight, a fight for justice, dignity and honour”.

On Wednesday, Variety said Boudi had confirmed that Musk and Rowling were both named in the complaint – as were other high-profile figures.

“JK Rowling and Elon Musk are named in the lawsuit, among others,” he told the publication, adding that US presidential candidate Donald Trump would be part of the investigation.

“Trump tweeted, so whether or not he is named in our lawsuit, he will inevitably be looked into as part of the prosecution.”

The idea that those objecting to a male punching a female in the name of sport are objecting because they believe Khelif to be ‘trans’ is a joke. We object because we saw a male punching a female. https://t.co/KSAM5RCl1S

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 2, 2024

Khelif was thrust into an ugly global row over gender identity and regulation in sports after her first Games fight. Italian opponent Angela Carini pulled out just seconds into the match, citing pain from opening punches.

Claims that Khelif was transgender or a man erupted online – despite her being born female and identifying as a woman.

The International Olympic Committee defended her and denounced those peddling misinformation, while Khelif said the spread of the misconceptions “harms human dignity”.

Much of the abuse was spread on social media, particularly on X (which Musk owns). It was also driven by input from high-profile figures.

Variety reports that in one message to her 14.2 million followers, Rowling posted a picture from Khelif’s fight with Carini, accusing the Algerian of being a man who was “enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head”.

Musk, meanwhile, shared a post from former American swimmer Riley Gaines that claimed “men don’t belong in women’s sports”, adding his own one-word note: “Absolutely.”

Trump, meanwhile, posted a message with a picture from the fight with Carina with the message: “I will keep men out of women’s sports!”

Boudi said that while Khelif’s complaint did mention names, it asked that “the prosecution investigates not only these people but whoever it feels necessary”.

“If the case goes to court, they will stand trial,” he said.

He said “personalities overseas” could be targeted, even though the lawsuit was filed in France.

“The prosecutor’s office for combating online hate speech has the possibility to make requests for mutual legal assistance with other countries,” Boudi said.

Other big names, including YouTuber Logan Paul, also joined in the attacks on Khelif. Paul later deleted his post, saying he “might be guilty of spreading misinformation.”

But Boudi said such apologies changed nothing.

“The lawsuit is filed and the facts remain,” he said.

Under French law, prosecutors must decide whether to open an investigation into Khelif’s complaint.