"I am a racist, I did it on purpose": The spotter who sabotaged an athlete faces prison

A dramatic criminal investigation is shaking the world of weightlifting in Europe: Lithuanian police have opened proceedings against Ernestas Kusinas, who served as a spotter during the European Championships. Kusinas is suspected of intentionally sabotaging the attempt by Belgian athlete Sonita Muluh to lift a massive record weight of 334.5 kilograms. During the attempt, he placed his knee under the bar, causing her disqualification and nearly leading to a major disaster.

The storm erupted after Kusinas wrote on social media: "I am a racist, and I did it on purpose." Following the admission, the Lithuanian Powerlifting Federation banned him for life and transferred the case to the police, where he faces up to two years in prison. Later, he tried to retract his statement in an interview with the Reuters news agency, claiming it was trolling born of anger and fatigue, but the damage was already done.

Muluh, a former world champion, broke her silence in a poignant interview with the BBC and highlighted the heavy psychological toll:

"It is a shock to discover that he did it on purpose because of my skin color. When a person is standing next to you with a huge weight on their back, any small mistake can end in disaster."

Muluh attacked the international federation and claimed that the lives of athletes are being put at risk without background checks for staff.

Following the incident, the International Powerlifting Federation stated that it unequivocally condemns racism and discrimination. The federation praised the swift lifetime ban of Kusinas and promised to immediately tighten and refresh the screening and supervision procedures for all volunteers and support staff at future competitions.