The World Boxing Organization (WBO) has denied that Olympic champion Imane Khelif was stripped of her gold medal for failing gender eligibility tests, calling the reports “blatantly false and ill-intentioned.” .

The 25-year-old Algerian sparked controversy at this year’s Paris Olympics after it was revealed she had been banned from the World Championships for allegedly failing a gender test.

Khelif, 25, who won women’s welterweight gold this summer, is taking legal action over alleged online harassment she suffered over an argument over gender.

Now the controversy appears to have reignited following an online sports blog article claiming Khelif had been banned from boxing for life by the WBO and stripped of his medal.

However, as Kehlif is an amateur boxer, the WBO would have no jurisdiction and the boxing authority has since denied all false allegations.

The 25-year-old Algerian (pictured) sparked controversy at this year’s Paris Olympics after it was revealed she had been banned from the World Championships.

Khelif, 25, who won women’s welterweight gold this summer, is taking legal action over alleged online harassment.

Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng and Algeria’s Imane Khelif (Blue) compete in the women’s 66kg boxing semi-final at this year’s Olympic Games.

In a statement, the WBO said: “The World Boxing Organization has informed that it has neither tested nor banned boxer Imane Khelif, who won a gold medal in the boxing tournament at the Olympic Games in 2024 in Paris, France.

“Reports claiming the WBO banned Khelif are obviously false.

“We have had no communication with Khelif. We congratulate her and wish her good luck in all her future endeavors.

WBO legal counsel Gustavo Olivieri added: “Any reports to the contrary are obviously false and ill-intentioned.

“She worked hard to win this medal.”

The World Championships were organized by the International Boxing Association (IBA), led by Russia.

But the International Olympic Committee (IOC) later stripped it of its global governing body status over integrity and governance concerns.

The IOC has also questioned the credibility and legitimacy of the IBA’s gender tests, saying they cannot be relied upon.

Imane Khelif of the Algerian team poses for a photo after winning the gold medal at this year’s Paris Games

“JK Rowling and Elon Musk are notably cited in the lawsuit,” Khelif’s lawyer wrote on X.

Nabil Boudi told Variety that the Tesla mogul (pictured) and Harry Potter author were both named in the criminal complaint.

Speaking after her Olympic victory, Khelif said she had been the victim of “harassment” and that the IBA “hates me and I really don’t know why”.

She added: “I was born a woman. I lived as a woman. I competed as a woman, there’s no doubt about that.

Elon Musk and JK Rowling were named in a complaint filed with French authorities for “aggravated acts of cyberstalking” after they launched an outcry against Khelif’s participation in the Paris Olympics.

Nabil Boudi, the gold medalist’s Paris-based lawyer, told Variety that the Tesla mogul and Harry Potter author were both named in the criminal complaint.

“JK Rowling and Elon Musk are named in the lawsuit, among others,” Boudi wrote on X, noting that Donald Trump would also be part of the investigation.

Possible consequences for cyberbullying offenses in France are prison sentences ranging from two to five years and fines ranging from £26,000 to £39,000.

If prosecuted for online hate speech, perpetrators could even be fined between £64,000 and £214,000.