Police Investigate After Lithuanian Causes Racist Scandal at World Championship

Lithuanian police have initiated a preliminary investigation into Ernestas Kusinas following racist statements he posted on social media, which are connected to an incident during a world championship event. The investigation, reported by BBC and Reuters, will scrutinize both Kusinas's Instagram post and the details of the championship incident.

Kusinas could face up to two years in prison for such actions under Lithuanian law. Belgian athlete Sonita Muluh stated that she no longer feels safe competing after the events, expressing shock at discovering weeks later that Kusinas allegedly acted intentionally due to her skin color.

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It is shocking that five weeks later I woke up and found out that it was written on the internet that he did it on purpose because of my skin color. I don't feel safe when such a person is standing next to me while I am carrying such a huge weight.

The incident occurred during the women's over 84 kg classic powerlifting world championships in Druskininkai. A barbell plate reportedly hit Muluh's leg during one of her attempts, causing it to be disqualified. Initially, the situation was considered a possible human error, with Muluh even defending the volunteer involved.

However, weeks later, Kusinas claimed responsibility on social media, admitting to racist views. "I am a racist. I hate black people. That's why I did what I did," he wrote. This admission changed the perception of the event significantly.

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I am a racist. I hate black people. That's why I did what I did.