Powerlifter Sonita Muluh Expresses Safety Concerns After Disqualification Incident

Belgian powerlifter Sonita Muluh has expressed her concerns about safety in the sport after an incident at the Powerlifting Championships in Lithuania, where she was disqualified following an alleged racially motivated act. Muluh was attempting a record squat of 334.5kg when Ernestas Kusinas, a spotter, touched the weights with his knee, leading to her disqualification by the judges for a separate technical infringement.

Following the event, Kusinas admitted on social media to intentionally interfering with Muluh's lift, prompting a criminal investigation by Lithuanian police. The investigation will focus on his Instagram comment, which could result in a maximum penalty of two years in prison. Kusinas has since received a lifetime ban from the Lithuanian Powerlifting Federation.

Muluh, who has achieved multiple accolades in powerlifting, criticized the International Powerlifting Federation for its lack of action and called for better safety measures for athletes. She described feeling unwelcome at the event and highlighted the need for the sport to address issues of racism and discrimination more effectively.