Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif filed a legal complaint for online harassment against her

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Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif filed a legal complaint for online harassment against her

2024-08-11 23:06 Last Updated At：23:11

PARIS (AP) — Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif has filed a legal complaint in France for online harassment after a rain of criticism and false claims about her sex during the Paris Olympics, her lawyer said Sunday.

Khelif, who will be Algeria's flag bearer in the closing ceremony, won gold Friday in the women’s welterweight division, becoming a new hero in her native Algeria and bringing global attention to women's boxing.

The complaint was filed Friday with a special unit in the Paris prosecutor’s office for combating online hate speech, alleging “aggravated cyber-harassment” targeting Khelif, lawyer Nabil Boudi said. In a statement, he described it as a “misogynist, racist and sexist campaign” against the boxer.

It is now up to prosecutors to decide whether to open an investigation. As is common in French law, the complaint doesn’t name an alleged perpetrator but leaves it to investigators to determine who could be at fault.

Khelif was unwittingly thrust into a worldwide clash over gender identity and regulation in sports after her first fight, when Italian opponent Angela Carini pulled out just seconds into the match, citing pain from opening punches. False claims that Khelif was transgender or a man erupted online, and the International Olympic Committee defended her and denounced those peddling misinformation. Khelif said that the spread of misconceptions about her “harms human dignity.”

Earlier, Kirsty Burrows, an official in charge of the IOC's unit for safeguarding and mental health, filed a complaint with French authorities saying she received death threats and harassment online following a news conference in Paris at which she had spoken in defense of Khelif.

The Paris prosecutor’s office said it received Burrows' complaint on Aug. 4 and agents from the National Unit for the Fight against Online Hate are investigating the alleged offenses, including death threats, public provocations aimed at attacking a person and cyberbullying. Under French law, the crimes, if proven, carry prison sentences that range from two to five years and fines ranging from 30,000 to 45,000 euros.

The Olympics-banned International Boxing Association disqualified Khelif and fellow boxer Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan from the world championships last year, claiming the two fighters failed unspecified eligibility tests for women’s competition. The IOC has called the arbitrary sex tests that the sport’s governing body imposed on the two women irretrievably flawed and has defended both boxers since the start of the Paris Games.

Experts say the scrutiny of Khelif and Lin reflected disproportionate scrutiny and discrimination toward female athletes of color when it comes to sex testing and false claims that they are male or transgender.

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Manzardo homers, Clase gets 46th save as Guardians rally past Twins 4-3 to tighten grip on Central

2024-09-17 10:42 Last Updated At：10:51

CLEVELAND (AP) — Rookie Kyle Manzardo hit a two-run, go-ahead homer in the eighth inning and Emmanuel Clase recorded his 46th save as the Cleveland Guardians rallied to beat the Minnesota Twins 4-3 on Monday night to tighten their grip on the AL Central.

With Josh Naylor on second after a double, Manzardo connected on the first pitch from Griffin Jax (4-5), sending it deep into the right-field seats for his third homer to trigger an eruption of joy in Cleveland's dugout and throughout Progressive Field.

“I'm so happy for him,” said Guardians manager Stephen Vogt, who was overcome with emotion during his postgame news conference. “Everyone who grows up wanting to play baseball has dreamed of that moment happening. The smile on his face looking back at our dugout, that was incredible.”

Vogt paused to compose himself.

“My favorite part is Naylor at second base standing there watching it and cheering, waiting for him at home plate with a smile on his face,” Vogt said, his eyes reddened by tears. “To see two teammates come together like that, that's powerful stuff.”

Manzardo said his trip around the bases was unforgettable.

“I floated a little bit,” he said. “I don’t remember all of it, honestly.”

Their MLB-leading 40th come-from-behind win moved the Guardians 7 1/2 games ahead of the defending division champion Twins. It also reduced Cleveland's magic number for clinching a playoff berth to two.

Clase, who has built a strong argument for Cy Young consideration, worked the ninth for his 33rd consecutive save and No. 46 this season, tying him with José Mesa (1995) for the club's single-season record.

“It’s really special,” Clase said of catching Mesa. “It's all about the focus, being able to stay focused on every single pitch and to execute every single pitch when I get the chance to pitch.”

Rookie Andrew Walters (1-0) picked up his first career win as Cleveland's top-ranked bullpen threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings to bail out starter Matthew Boyd, who didn't get out of the third.

Pablo López pitched into the seventh inning for the Twins, but Minnesota's bullpen couldn't protect the lead.

Byron Buxton hit a two-run single for the Twins, who dropped to 8-2 against the Guardians in 2024.

Minnesota's division chances are essentially done, and every loss puts a possible wild-card spot in jeopardy.

“Our margin of error keeps shrinking and shrinking,” said López. "Now it's to the point we got to take it one game at a time, one pitch at a time, one at-bat at a time. Today will be a tough pill to swallow.

“We still have a shot. Everyone's aware of the standings. There's a scoreboard wherever you go.”

The Twins took a 3-0 lead in the third and chased Boyd, who gave up a double to Carlos Correa and then hurt himself by loading the bases with a pair of two-out walks.

Correa scored on a passed ball and Buxton brought in Minnesota's next two runs with a single that deflected off Boyd's glove into center. As Guardians second baseman Giménez tried to reach it behind the bag, he collided with umpire Chad Fairchild, who was doing all he could to get out of the way.

Giménez needed a few minutes to gather himself but stayed in.

KWAN UPDATE

Guardians All-Star left fielder and leadoff hitter Steven Kwan missed his fourth straight game with lower back soreness. Kwan went through a strenuous pregame workout and Vogt said the team should have a better handle on a timeframe for Kwan's return Tuesday.

Kwan is batting just .201 in the second half after leading MLB with a .352 average at the All-Star break.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Guardians: Vogt said RHP Alex Cobb (middle finger blister) is scheduled to throw a bullpen in “the next couple days” and providing there no setbacks, he's expected to be sent out for a minor league rehab start. The 36-year-old has only made three starts since Cleveland acquired him in a July trade from San Francisco.

UP NEXT

Guardians RHP Gavin Williams (3-9, 5.23 ERA) starts Tuesday's game against Twins rookie RHP Zebby Matthews (1-3, 7.11).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb