Lithuanian Police Investigate Spotter Ernestas Kusinas After Racist Sabotage Of Sonita Muluh
Image: The Telegraph

Lithuanian Police Investigate Spotter Ernestas Kusinas After Racist Sabotage Of Sonita Muluh

05 August, 2026.Sports.4 sources

Lithuanian police opened a formal criminal investigation into racist sabotage of a Black athlete. The sabotage occurred at June Powerlifting Championships in Lithuania during Sonita Muluh's 334.5kg squat.

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Racist sabotage at meet

Belgian powerlifter Sonita Muluh was attempting to squat 334.5kg at the Powerlifting Championships in Lithuania in June when spotter Ernestas Kusinas placed his knee under the barbell, causing her to fail and be disqualified by judges.

declaring he did so because he was “a racist”

The TelegraphThe Telegraph

Lithuanian police opened a criminal investigation after Kusinas later wrote on Instagram: "I am racist, and I did it intentionally," and a police spokesperson told Reuters the probe would focus on the Instagram message and events at the championship.

Image from BBC
BBCBBC

Reuters reported that Kusinas said his Instagram comment was written out of anger after he was accused of racism by an unidentified social media user and was intended as mockery rather than a statement.

The Lithuanian Powerlifting Federation issued a lifetime ban, and Kusinas subsequently made his social media accounts private after the incident came to light following the federation’s review of video recordings.

Muluh says she feels unsafe

Muluh told BBC Sport that she "does not feel safe" when competing, saying it was "shocking to wake up five weeks later" to learn Kusinas had said he did it on purpose because of the colour of her skin.

She said she feels unsafe and uneasy that Kusinas is standing beside her "with massive weight, with what can go wrong, with the amount of weight on your back," and she added, "Not everyone could" stabilise after the knee contact.

Image from Fanatik
FanatikFanatik

Muluh also told the BBC that she believes the International Powerlifting Federation "failed" her following the incident and that swift action is only happening now as the story has grown.

Speaking to Reuters, Kusinas said he unintentionally interfered with Muluh’s and other athletes’ attempts because he was tired after his duties at the event, while the IPF said it "unequivocally condemns racism, discrimination, and hateful conduct" in all forms.

SourcesBBCBBC

Investigation, bans, and scrutiny

Lithuanian police said the investigation would examine both the social media message and event recordings, with the offense carrying a potential maximum penalty of two years in prison.

The maximum penalty is two years in prison.

The TelegraphThe Telegraph

The Lithuanian Powerlifting Federation permanently banned Kusinas from participating in any future events under its jurisdiction and handed over evidence and video files to police authorities for formal criminal evaluation.

The incident also drew international condemnation, with the International Powerlifting Federation praising the Lithuanian federation’s "prompt and decisive response" and issuing a statement that it would coordinate with relevant IPF commissions, the IPF Safeguarding Officer, and the IPF Championships Team to strengthen recruitment, screening, accreditation, and oversight of volunteers.

Muluh said she hopes the IPF will consider the safety of athletes more and especially minority people, adding that she did not feel welcome in Lithuania and that "Some black athletes are booed in competition" while athletes have to worry about their skin colour.

Story read · 4 outlets · 2 disagreements · 1 fact unevenly covered

Coverage map

How each outlet frames it

Every outlet we compared, the headline it ran, and a link to the original article.

Western Mainstream

BBC
BBC

'I feel unsafe', says powerlifter over racism row

05 August, 2026

The Telegraph
The Telegraph

Powerlifter spotter declares ‘I’m a racist’ after deliberately sabotaging record attempt

05 August, 2026

Other

Fanatik
Fanatik

Lithuanian Police Open Criminal Investigation Following Sabotage Incident Involving Black Powerlifter

04 August, 2026

Sport Resolutions
Sport Resolutions

Lithuanian police undertake investigation after a Lithuanian spotter allegedly stated that he intentionally sabotaged a world record attempt because he is racist

04 August, 2026

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