Khelif has been identified as female since birth, is documented as a woman on her passport, and has competed in women's boxing from the beginning of her career.
However, the world indoor silver medalist swiftly corrected her actions, shaking her head slightly and wagging her finger before repeating the salute with her left hand.
Before the semifinal, she was reportedly barred from the warm-up area by officials who said she could not access the facilities unless she arrived on the team bus.
The Lakshya Sen vs. Viktor Axelsen Paris 2024 Olympics men's singles badminton semifinal will take place on Sunday, August 4, at the La Chapelle Arena.
This surprising reversal means that Mohammed and his accomplices, Walid Bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawasawi, could again be subject to the death penalty.
This incident occurred as two other athletes suffered seemingly serious injuries at Paris' Stade de France on Friday as the athletics events began in the French capital.
After the match, the distraught Italian said: "I'm used to suffering. I've never taken a punch like that, it's impossible to continue. I'm nobody to say it's illegal."