{"id":26131,"date":"2026-08-03T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=26131"},"modified":"2026-08-03T16:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T16:00:00","slug":"lithuanian-police-launch-racism-investigation-after-black-powerlifter-incident","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=26131","title":{"rendered":"Lithuanian police launch racism investigation after Black powerlifter incident"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The Lithuanian federation referred the case to police after Kusinas commented on Instagram: \u201cI am racist, and I did it intentionally.\u201d<\/p>\n

A police spokesperson told Reuters the investigation will focus on the Instagram message and events at the championship, with a maximum penalty of two years in prison.<\/p>\n

Kusinas told Reuters his Instagram comment was written out of anger, in response to racism accusations, and was intended not as a statement but as a mockery of the accusations.<\/p>\n

\u201cI threw him the bone he wanted,\u201d added Kusinas, referring to an unidentified social media user who he said had accused him of racism.<\/p>\n

Kusinas said he unintentionally interfered with Muluh\u2019s and other athletes\u2019 attempts because he was tired after his duties at the event.<\/p>\n

Muluh, 29, a Cameroon-born Belgian athlete, has won medals at several Powerlifting Championships and became world champion in 2024.<\/p>\n

MISSED BY JUDGES<\/p>\n

The Lithuanian federation barred Kusinas from all events, while the International Powerlifting Federation condemned racism and hateful conduct in a statement.<\/p>\n

The incident was missed by judges, but was noticed in video recordings after the event, the Lithuanian federation\u2019s president, Domantas Barauskas, said.<\/p>\n

Barauskas said videos show Kusinas, a longtime spotter, interfering with other athletes\u2019 squat attempts, including a white Swedish powerlifter\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Muluh\u2019s partner Kristof De Coninck said she could have won if her final squat attempt had not been tampered with, and that poor assistance risked \u201cvery serious injuries.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cInitially, we thought it was a mistake,\u201d said De Coninck.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut then \u2026 it became clear (because of the social media comment) that the person had done it deliberately, motivated by racial bias.\u201d He added that Kusinas had not contacted them after the event.<\/p>\n

De Coninck said Muluh welcomed the Lithuanian police investigation, and was putting together an internal complaint with the IPF.<\/p>\n

(Writing by Andrius Sytas, Reporting by Andrius Sytas, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Editing by Ken Ferris)<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.<\/em><\/p>\n