Lithuanian police probe claims of sabotage at powerlifting event

During the June championships, Kusinas placed his knee under the barbell while Muluh attempted a 334.5 kg squat, causing her to fail the lift. While the incident initially went unnoticed by judges, footage later surfaced showing similar interference with other competitors, including a white Swedish athlete. Federation president Domantas Barauskas confirmed that the organization has barred Kusinas from all future events and referred the matter to authorities.

Kusinas now claims his Instagram admission was an act of frustration directed at critics. He maintains that his interference with multiple athletes was merely the result of fatigue after long hours on the safety crew. However, Muluh’s partner, Kristof De Coninck, argues the physical intervention was deliberate and posed a significant risk of injury. The police investigation into the conduct of the longtime spotter could lead to a maximum sentence of two years in prison.