This document is a digital representation of the official IPL Rulebook. This document has been digitized to permit automatic translation of this document. This document is provided as a reference. In ALL instances, please refer to the official IPL Rulebook, which can be found here: Official IPL Rulebook.
PART 1. GENERAL RULES
Item 1. General Rules
The International Powerlifting League (IPL) recognizes the following:
1.1.1 All “three-lift competitions” must include and be performed in the sequence of the squat, then bench press, and concluding with the deadlift.
1.1.2. Competition takes place between lifters in categories defined by gender, bodyweight and age.
1.1.3. The rules apply to all levels of competition – Regional, National, World.
1.1.4. Each competitor is allowed three attempts on each lift. Any exceptions are explained in the appropriate section of the rulebook. The lifter’s best valid attempt on each lift, disregarding any fourth attempts for record purposes, counts toward the competition total.
1.1.5 The winner of a category shall be the lifter who achieves the highest total. The remaining lifters shall be ranked in descending order based upon total. Lifters failing to achieve a total are eliminated from the competition.
1.1.6 If two or more lifters achieve the same total, the lighter lifter ranks above the heavier lifter. If there is still a tie both lifters will be re-weighed immediately after the competition has ended and the lifter with the lighter body weight will be ranked above the heavier lifter. If they still remain tied, the contested placing will officially be declared a tie.
Item 2. Age Categories
1.1.7 Competitive lifting shall be restricted to competitor’s age 15 years older. The lifter must have attained minimum age on the day of the competition. The following age categories are recognized by the IPL for both men and women:
Junior: 15-19
Junior: 20-23
Open: 13-85+
Master: 40 to 44, 45 to 49, 50 to 54, 55 to 59, 60 to 64, 65 to 69, 70 to 74, 75 to 79, 80-84, 85+
Item 3. Bodyweight Categories
The following weight classes are recognized by the IPL:
1.3.1 Mens’ Weight Classes
52.0 kg
56.0 kg
60.0 kg
67.5 kg
75.0 kg
82.5 kg
90.0 kg
100.0 kg
110.0 kg
125.0 kg
140.0 kg 140.1+kg (SHW)
1.3.2 Womens’ Weight Classes
44.0 kg
48.0 kg
52.0 kg
56.0 kg
60.0 kg
67.5 kg
75.0 kg
82.5 kg
90.0 kg 90+kg (SHW)
Item 4. IPL Registration
1.4.1 Lifters, administrators, referees’, committee members and other contest officials participating in IPL sanctioned competitions, national meetings and any other form of official IPL business must maintain current IPL registration.
1.4.2 Competition is restricted to the minimum age of 15, with no maximum age limit. Youth lifters younger than 15 may lift in IPL sanctioned meets as guest lifters, with prior approval, if their parent or guardian has signed a waiver form. They will not be able to establish records or receive
awards. Youth lifters will need to purchase a high school membership regardless if they are in High School. This is for insurance reasons.
1.4.3 All lifters must show proper identification (driver’s license, passport or school ID) and their IPL
membership card (with expiration date) at the time of weigh-ins.
1.4.4 Annual IPL membership registration will cover the period of 12 months from the date of issue.
IPL membership must be purchased though the IPL website at https://powerlifting-ipl.com/
1.4.5 Throughout this rulebook, where ever the words “he” or “his” occur, such reference is deemed to apply to either gender.
1.4.6 The IPL logo shall not be changed in anyway, and shall always be displayed with the “R” on the logo. Any deviation of the logo shall be causing to terminate the usage permission. Please direct any questions or inquiries regarding this policy to the IPL World office: [email protected] .
Item 5. Team Competition
1.5.1 Regional, National or World Teams are structured as follows:
1.5.2 Each team is allowed a maximum of twelve competitors spread throughout the range of the twelve-bodyweight categories for men and ten competitors throughout the range of ten bodyweight categories for women. There must not be more than two competitors from any one team in the same bodyweight category.
1.5.3 Each team is allowed a maximum of two alternates or reserves. These alternates or reserves may be substituted at any time or if a team member is disqualified. Each team must submit a team roster giving the name of each lifter and their bodyweight category.
1.5.4 Teams competing in Regional, National, or World competitions may be mixed with both men and women lifting on the same team when there are not enough lifters to compile same gender only teams.
1.5.5 Point scoring shall consist of the top six team member’s Wilks formula from each participating team towards their team total.
1.5.6 Point scoring shall be according to the Wilks formula. No Master’s formula shall be used.
1.5.7 Teams shall be declared to the Weigh-In official by the end of the final weigh-in session preceding competition.
Item 6. Best Lifter Awards
1.6.1 At all competitions where “Best Lifter Awards” are presented, placing will be established by the Wilks formula. Scoring the best masters lifters will additionally entail the use of the
McCulloch formula.
1.6.2 Best Lifter awards will be given in all categories that have five or more competitors finishing the meet with totals.
Item 7. Regional/Country Affiliation
1.7.1 Upon registration, lifters (via their residence mailing address) will designate the specific Region/Country they will represent when competing. A lifter who is registered in one Region/country during the year and then moves to another Region/country has the option of maintaining the original Region/country residency registration, competing in that Region/countries championships and qualifying for Region/country records until December 31 of that year. If the lifter chooses to compete in the Region/country championships of his or her new Region/country location, the lifter must notify the Region/Country Office with their new mailing address listing the new Regional residency. The lifter will receive a new registration card with the new address at no additional charge and will then be able to compete in the Regional championships of the new location, as well as qualify for setting Region/country records in that Region/country. A lifter may compete in only one Region/country championship per year for records purposes.
1.7.2 Lifters may not simultaneously set records in two different Regions/countries. If a lifter does re- register, he/she may hold records in two different Regions/countries that were set during different meets. College/University students have the option of registering in either their home Region/country or the Region/country in which their college/university is located (if residency in that Region has been established.)
Item 8. Drug Testing
1.8.1 At the discretion of the IPL World Office, Meet Directors will have the option to hold drug tested meets if they 1) apply for and pay the sanction fee to conduct a drug tested meet, and 2) follow all IPL testing guidelines.
1.8.2 The title or name of any drug-tested competition must be clearly distinguished from a non-tested meet. The contest name must be preceded by the phrase “Drug Tested.” For example, “Drug Tested Regional Championships.”
1.8.3 Drug tested, and non-tested competitions cannot be held together and/or on the same day. If a tested and non-tested contest is held over a weekend, one day can be untested, and one day can be tested, each being a completely separate contest for all records, awards, and Best Lifters. Each contest may be performed under one sanction, but two separate entry registration forms are required.
1.8.4 The Meet Director must pay in-full all laboratory testing fees no later than 14-days before the scheduled date of a drug tested contest. The fees are paid via the “Drug Test Lab Payment Form”
that’s accessed via the meet director login page on the IPL Website. Paying the lab fees also serves as an order form to ensure that all the testing kits and materials are shipped and received by the Meet Director before the contest.
1.8.5 After payment of the lab fees per sec. 1.8.4, the laboratory will ship the drug test kits, with “extra” kits that may be used as a substitute in the event one or more of the required kits are damaged or lost. These “extra” kits may only be used at a future contest if the meet director has pre-paid the laboratory testing fees for the future contest as Regionald in sec. 1.8.4.
1.8.6 The Meet Director must submit to the lab the same number of drug tests that were ordered on the Drug Test Lab Payment Form in sec. 1.8.4. For example, if the meet director ordered 6 tests, he/she must test 6 athletes and submit to the lab 6 completed drug test kits. A copy of each athlete’s drug test form shall be submitted to the IPL National office with the score cards upon completion of every drug-tested meet.
1.8.7 Testing must be performed on all lifters who achieve a Wilkes score within the top 10% of competitors on each day of competition. Example of 10% ratio: if the meet has 40-44 lifters, then it would be rounded down to mandatory 4 lifters tested; if the meet has 45-50 lifters it will be rounded up to mandatory 5 lifters tested. Upon completion of a contest, the Iron Comp Software will automatically calculate these ratios and display the athletes requiring testing under the menu selection of Drug Testing>Mandatory Tests.
1.8.8 In competitions where there are both male and female participants, the top 10% of Wilks scores that are targeted for testing must include both male and female lifters based on the percentage of participation of each gender. Upon completion of a contest, the Iron Comp Software will automatically calculate these ratios and display the athletes requiring testing under the menu selection of Drug Testing>Mandatory Tests.
1.8.9 Meet Directors have the option of testing up to a maximum of 10% of Master, Junior, and Single Lift (Bench Press and Deadlift) competitors based on their Wilks score. Upon completion of a contest, the Iron Comp Software will automatically calculate the highest Wilks score for the top competitor in Masters, Juniors, Bench Press Only, Deadlift Only and Push Pull and display the athletes requiring testing under the menu selection of Drug Testing>Optional Tests.
1.8.10 Meet Directors have the option of A) testing only those candidates that are displayed in the list generated from the Iron Comp Software under Drug Testing>Mandatory Tests, or B) selecting candidates from both the Mandatory Tests and the Optional Tests, in which case you will substitute the athlete with the lowest Wilks score shown on the Mandatory Tests report with the athlete showing the highest Wilks score shown on the Optional Tests report.
1.8.11 All tests must be administered immediately after lifting has been completed, conducted by an IPL official of the same gender. No out-of-meet testing will be performed.
1.8.12 Any Meet Director who conducts a drug-tested contest and fails to perform the required testing will be 1) ineligible to hold another drug tested contest for 12-months, and 2) must thereafter satisfy the IPL World Office that any administrative deficiencies have been corrected.
1.8.13 It is the lifter’s responsibility to remain at the competition venue following a drug-tested contest to determine if he/she has been selected for drug testing. If the athlete fails, refuses, or is not available when the testing occurs, their lack of testing will be treated as a drug test failure subject to a lifetime ban without an opportunity to appeal.
1.8.14 Testing with minor lifters under the age of 18 will be performed with two IPL officials present, along with the lifter’s parent, guardian, or coach.
1.8.15 Testing is to be performed by urinalysis using the drug testing kits and laboratory approved.
1.8.16 If a lifter enters a drug tested meet and fails their test, or the appeal period expires or affirms the positive test results, the lifter will be banned for life from ever competing in an IPL tested meet.
1.8.17 Lifters can appeal a positive test and request that the sample B be used to retest at the lifter’s expense. The appeal must be requested, and all required fees paid in full within 30 days following a positive test. The right to appeal expires after 30 days. If a lifter is successful in appealing a drug test, the lifter will be reinstated in good standing and all lifts and/or records will be reinstated.
1.8.18 A lifter that has failed a drug test will be allowed to continue to compete in the untested divisions after paying a $500 fine for having falsely competed in a tested division.
1.8.19 The IPL does not allow any therapeutic use exemptions. This means no lifter using a prescribed hormone or other banned substance (see sec. 12) will be allowed to compete in the drug tested division.
1.8.20 The IPL will recognize drug tested suspension lists from other organizations if the suspension resulted from use of a substance prohibited by the IPL. Any lifter on a suspension or banned list from any other organization for use of a substance prohibited by the IPL will not be allowed to compete in any tested divisions but may compete in the non-tested divisions.
1.8.21 If at any time it’s determined that a lifter failed a drug test, for a substance prohibited by the IPL, in another organization and despite such failure participated in an IPL drug-tested event, said athlete will be treated as a failure subject to a lifetime ban.
1.8.22 The IPL will maintain a private list of everyone tested, including both positive and negative test results, on our Meet Director portal at the IPL website. This list will be available to IPL affiliate countries Presidents and Meet Directors as a reference to screen lifters entered in drug tested meets.
1.8.23 Drug testing is only available at drug-tested meets.
1.8.24 Drug-tested records may only be established in drug-tested competitions.
1.8.25 Non-Tested records can be broken in drug-tested meets.
See Section 12 for banned substance list
