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. Spotters are only permitted to touch the weights if a lifter cannot complete the attempt on her own. Lithuanian Powerlifting Federation president Domantas Barauskas said the comments caught organizers off guard. Muluh said the incident stripped her confidence in the safety of the sport and accused the International Powerlifting Federation of negligence.