Sonita Muluh, Who Is of Cameroonian Descent, Said She "Does Not Feel Safe" Competing After She Was Disqualified From an Event

Muluh was attempting a record 334.5kg squat at the Powerlifting Championships in June when spotter Ernestas Kusinas touched the weights with his knee. She was disqualified by judges on a separate technical infringement, but Lithuanian police launched a criminal investigation after Kusinas wrote on Instagram: "I am racist, and I did it intentionally. Kusinas later told the comment was made in anger and as mockery, not a statement.

He received a lifetime ban from the Lithuanian Powerlifting Federation. Muluh told BBC Sport she was "shocked" to learn five weeks later that the act was intentional, adding she felt the International Powerlifting Federation "failed" her through negligence. She said black athletes are frequently booed and that she felt unwelcome in Lithuania, noting that some big names in the sport did not speak out.

Kusinas said he unintentionally interfered with attempts because he was tired. The IPF said it "unequivocally condemns racism, discrimination, and hateful conduct in all its forms.