Spotter Admits to Interfering with Powerlifting Champion's Lift, Investigation Launched
Belgian powerlifting champion Sonita Muluh expressed her feelings of insecurity following an incident at the 2026 World Powerlifting Championships in Lithuania. During her attempt at a record-breaking squat of 334.5kg, spotter Ernestas Kusinas admitted on social media to deliberately interfering with her lift, claiming to be racist.
The incident occurred in June when Kusinas made contact with the bar using his knee, causing Muluh's lift to be disqualified. Initially, she believed the contact was accidental. However, after Kusinas's post surfaced weeks later, which he later deleted, it prompted a police investigation in Lithuania and disciplinary actions from both the International Powerlifting Federation and the Lithuanian Powerlifting Federation.
Despite Kusinas's claim that his post was sarcastic and not a genuine admission, Muluh stated that the revelation changed her perception of the event and raised concerns about athlete safety. The Lithuanian Powerlifting Federation has since issued Kusinas a lifetime ban, while the IPF condemned the incident and pledged to review its safety protocols for future competitions.
