Powerlifting racism row: Spotter declares 'I am racist' after sabotaging star's record attempt - admitting in astonishing social media post: 'I did it intentionally'

By BEN WILLCOCKS, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Published: 08:33, 6 August 2026 | Updated: 16:09, 6 August 2026 A powerlifting assistant is under police investigation in Lithuania after claiming he deliberately sabotaged a Black athlete's squat attempt because he is 'racist'.  Belgian athlete Sonita Muluh's attempt to squat 334.5kg at the World Classic Open Powerlifting Championships in Lithuania in June was disqualified after spotting assistant Ernestas Kusinas placed his knee under the barbell during the lift.  After the event, Kusinas sparked outrage by claiming in an Instagram post that he had deliberately sabotaged Muluh's lift because he is 'racist', a remark he later insisted was intended to mock those accusing him of racism.  The Lithuanian Powerlifting Federation referred the case to police, who have launched an investigation into both the Instagram post and the events at the championships, a spokesperson told Reuters.  The Instagram remark read: 'Sorry for you morons, I'm racist and I did it on purpose because I hate you pieces of s***'.  If found guilty, Kusinas could face a maximum sentence of two years in prison.  Powerlifting assistant Ernestas Kusinas (above) is under police investigation in Lithuania after claiming he deliberately sabotaged a Black athlete's squat attempt because he is 'racist' The spotter placed his knee on the barbell during Sonita Muluh's attempt to squat 334.5kg Kusinas later told Reuters the Instagram post was written in anger and was intended to mock social media users who had accused him of racism, rather than reflect his true views.  The spotter claimed he had unintentionally interfered with Muluh's attempt as a result of being tired from his duties at the event. Kusinas, who has since been banned for life from all powerlifting events by the Lithuanian federation and switched his social media accounts to private, claimed he had 'thrown him the bone he wanted' in response to an unidentified Instagram user who had accused him of racism.  Muluh, 29, became world champion in 2024 and has won medals at multiple Powerlifting Championships throughout her impressive career. The Cameroon-born powerlifter's partner Kristof De ​Coninck urged that she could have won the event in Lithuania without Kusinas' interference, insisting poor assistance risked 'very serious injuries'. 'Initially, we thought it was a mistake,' De Coninck said. 'But then, it became clear (because of the social media comment) that the person had done it ⁠deliberately, motivated ​by racial bias.' Speaking to BBC Sport about the controversy, Muluh said: 'It's shocking to wake up five weeks later and it's all over the internet that he did it on purpose because of the colour of my skin. 'I feel unsafe and uneasy that this person is standing beside me with massive weight, with what can go wrong, with the amount of weight on your back. 'I was lucky when I realised [it hit his knee] and I could stabilise it. Not everyone could. It was the heaviest ever squat for a female. '(Kusinas) did not reach out afterwards to apologise, but he is not obliged to. I thought it was a human mistake, that cost me a lot on the day. In an Instagram post after the event, he claimed he did it intentionally because he is 'racist' Muluh, pictured in 2025, admitted she feels 'unsafe and uneasy' after his Instagram comment 'But there was no hatred [from me]. I didn't lash out; didn't curse at him. There was a video of it posted afterwards and I said: "I hope he does not get hate." I believed it was an honest mistake. 'And then I find out five weeks later that he said this.' Meanwhile, the Lithuanian Powerlifting Federation has said in a statement: 'We would like to address the situation that unfolded on social media.  'We reviewed available information relating to Ernestas Kusinas and were deeply shocked by the views and activities addressed publicly which contradict the principles we stand for. 'The federation takes full responsibility for addressing this matter.'