'I feel unsafe', says powerlifter over racism row

Belgian powerlifter Sonita Muluh expressed her feelings of insecurity while competing following allegations of racism during a recent competition. During the Powerlifting Championships in Lithuania in June, powerlifter Ernestas Kusinas, who was acting as a spotter, unintentionally touched Muluh's squat weights with his knee. This led to her disqualification from the event.

Kusinas later admitted to his actions on Instagram, stating he was being intentionally racist. However, he claimed his comment was a mockery of the accusations made against him. The Lithuanian police have launched a criminal investigation into the incident, which could result in up to two years of imprisonment if found guilty.

Muluh, who is 29 years old, expressed her fear of not feeling safe while competing with someone who could potentially cause harm. She stated that she was fortunate to be able to stabilize the weights, but acknowledged that not everyone could have done so. She also criticized the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) for not taking adequate measures to ensure her safety.

Muluh further criticized the IPF, stating that they failed to protect her during the incident. She called for background checks on spotter volunteers to ensure their ability to protect athletes during competitions. Muluh also expressed her dissatisfaction with the support she received from the IPF, stating that they failed to address her concerns promptly.

The IPF responded to the situation by condemning racism and discrimination, and condemning Kusinas' actions. They acknowledged the Lithuanian Powerlifting Federation for taking swift action against Kusinas by permanently banning him from the federation. The IPF also pledged to strengthen the recruitment, screening, and oversight of volunteers supporting their events to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.