Belgian powerlifter Sonita Muluh stated she no longer feels safe competing after an incident at the Powerlifting Championships in Lithuania in June, where she alleges a spotter deliberately interfered with her attempt at a world record lift.

Muluh was attempting to lift 334.5kg when Ernestas Kusinas, a spotter, touched the weights with his knee. Judges disqualified Muluh, ruling on a separate technical infringement and denying her a re-attempt. However, Lithuanian police have since opened a criminal investigation into the incident following a post on Kusinas' Instagram account that read, "I am racist, and I did it intentionally." Kusinas faces a potential prison sentence of up to two years if convicted.

Kusinas later told Reuters that his Instagram comment was made in anger, intended to mock an accusation of racism from an unidentified social media user, and was not a genuine statement of intent. He has since been issued a lifetime ban by the Lithuanian Powerlifting Federation, and his social media accounts are now private.

Muluh expressed shock at the delayed revelation of Kusinas' alleged motivations. "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," she told BBC Sport. "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."

She initially believed the interference was an honest mistake, stating, "I thought it was a human mistake, that cost me a lot on the day." However, she noted that Kusinas did not reach out to apologize. "I believed it was an honest mistake. And then I find out five weeks later that he said this."

Muluh, 29, also feels the sport's world governing body, the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF), failed her by not adequately screening volunteers and placing her safety at risk. "I feel like the federation needs to do background checks. If you are going to put my life in someone else's hands, at least make sure that person is well equipped to be able to protect me or keep me from harm," she said. "But they failed me [through] negligence and putting my life in danger."

Muluh described Kusinas' alleged actions as doubling down on racist behavior, stating, "There's nothing jokey about any of what he said. He put my life in danger. Nobody spots like that, with their knee."

She further shared that she did not feel welcome at the event in Lithuania and that minority athletes often face discrimination. "Some black athletes are booed in competition, we have to worry about our skin colour while competing," Muluh stated. She criticized the lack of widespread support from prominent figures in the sport, noting that primarily other Black athletes reached out to offer solidarity.

Kusinas, speaking to Reuters, attributed his interference to fatigue from his duties at the event. He claimed he unintentionally interfered with lifts by multiple athletes.

The IPF released a statement unequivocally condemning racism and discrimination, affirming that such behavior has no place in the sport. The federation commended the Lithuanian Powerlifting Federation's swift response and ban of Kusinas. The IPF also announced plans to strengthen screening, accreditation, and oversight of volunteers at its events.

The Lithuanian Powerlifting Federation stated it was shocked by Kusinas' publicly expressed views and activities, which contradict the organization's principles, and took full responsibility for addressing the matter.