A volunteer spotter at last month’s powerlifting world championships admitted he deliberately sabotaged a black athlete’s world-record squat attempt because he is “a racist,” an admission that has since triggered a criminal investigation by Lithuanian police.
Ernestas Kusinas, one of five safety spotters assigned to Belgian lifter Sonita Muluh, placed his knee under her barbell during a 334.5kg squat attempt at the IPF World Classic Open Powerlifting Championships in Druskininkai, Lithuania. Reuters reported that police opened the probe Monday after Kusinas commented on an Instagram post about the failed lift.
“I am racist, and I did it intentionally,” Kusinas wrote.
Spotters are only permitted to touch the weights if a...
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