Proposals to IPF Congress 2002

 

At the IPF Annual Congress held in Trencin Slovakia, the following proposals forwarded by the Technical Committee were accepted by the Nation's Delegates.

 

    1.  ORDER OF COMPETITION

 

          Page 21 (k) Change from third sentence to read:

          If no weight is submitted within the one minute time allowance, the lifter will 

          be granted a 2.5 kg increase on his next attempt.

          Should the lifter have failed his previous attempt and not submitted a weight 

          for a further attempt within the one minute time allowance, then the bar will

          be loaded to the failed weight.  In the event of a fourth attempt for a world

          record being granted, the lifter must submit the weight within one minute of

          the lights having been activated for his successful third attempt.

 

    2.    WORLD RECORDS

 

           Page 31 World Continental, Regional and National Championships.

 

           Change sentences in first paragraph 1 to read:

 

           Men's 50-59 and 60+ records exceeding those gained in the 40-49 age 

           group will be included in the 40-49 category.

 

            Men's 60+ records exceeding those gained in the 50-59 age group will

            be included in the 50-59 category.

 

            Women's 50+ records exceeding those gained in the 40-49 age group

            will be included in the 40-49 category.

 

            Likewise, Sub-Juniors 14 / 18 records exceeding those gained in the

            Juniors 19 / 23 age group, will be included in this group.

 

    3.     GENERAL RULES OF POWERLIFTING

 

            Pages 3 and 4 Age Categories

 

            Change Masters to read:

 

             Men - Masters One:  From 1 January in the calendar year in which he 

             reaches 40 years to and including the calendar year in which he reaches

             49 years.

 

             Men - Masters Two:  From 1 January in the calendar year in which he

             reaches 50 years to and including the calendar year in which he

             reaches 59 years.

 

             Men - Masters Three:  From 1 January in the calendar year in which he

             reaches 60 years and upwards.

 

             Women - Masters One: from 1 January in the calendar year in which she

             reaches 40 years to and including the calendar year in which she reaches

             49 years.

 

             Women - Masters Two:  From 1 January in the calendar year in which she

              reaches 50 years and upwards.

 

The proposal to set a minimum range of movement in the bench press was withdrawn.  Members of the T.C. felt that it would (if passed) make for subjective decisions.  Something we are eager to eliminate from the rules.

 

We are looking at other options to counter the extreme bridge.  Perhaps the lifter having to remove the bar from the racks without the help of the spotter/loaders?

 

Wheelchair assistance to access the bench, proposed by P.L.. Australia was narrowly defeated 17 to 15.  It is hoped that there will be no repercussions! 

 

The new rules will come into force on the first of January 2003 

 

SUPPORTIVE SHIRTS

 

Unapproved (unlicensed) supportive shirts i.e. bench/erector must not be passed by examining referee's.   It is appreciated that often there is some difficulty at times to decide if what is presented, is or is not, on the IPF Approved List.  An up to date copy which can be down loaded from the IPF Web Site, found often within the pages of International Powerlifter or e:mailed/faxed from the Technical Committee, is the only "proof" one has of their legitamacy.  Even the labels (often removed) may be of little indication.

 

At this time, only Inzer, Titan and Crain are recognised - single ply, seams only as in the diagram found in the IPF Technical Rule book.  No denim, canvas, velcro attachments, or open back.

 

ILLEGAL COSTUME

 

At the recent Mens Open World Championships, a canvas costume was presented at gear check.  Not only was this illegal, but it was emblazoned with self adhesive logos from one of our approved suppliers.  This is fraudulent and could warrant action from the Disciplinary Committee.

 

ATHLETIC SUPPORTER

 

A standard commercial "athletic supporter" or - - - - may be worn under the lifting suit.

 

Very seldom does one see the common old jock strap these days, so, it was surprising to see a more specialised box type of protector offered up for approval at the "Men's Open".  It was passed, affording the lifter no undue advantage, but we would not suggest that it meets that of "standard".

 

FOOTWEAR

 

Sports Boots or sports shoes are the only acceptable footwear to be worn by lifters on platform at IPF World Championships.  It must be noted that sports, refers to indoors sports.  No, not Ice Hockey!!  Hiking boots to not fall into this category!  At the recent World Master's Championships a referee inadvertantly passed/stamped ("IPF Approved") working boots, army combat boots and the like, causing the Jury endless arguments with lifters who were asked to remove them.

 

If it is felt necessary,  there is no reason why a heel may not be professionally constructed.  This would not be considered to be "doctoring"

 

Incidentally, anyone who has followed the World Weightlifting Championships this past month would have noticed the uniform appearance of footwear.  Yes, there are especially designed, for powerlifting, boots on the market.  Expensive? Probably.     But so are supportive shirts.  The boots will no doubt last a lifetime of lifting.  Priorities?

 

It was good to see Shane Hamman U S A competing in the World Weightlifting Championships, placing 5th in the Super's.  Shane is still the  holder of the World Squat record at 125 + Senior and Junior 457.5 kg.

 

NEW  INTERNATIONAL REFEREES

 

Congratulations to the following who passed the examinations in conjuction with one or other of the last two World Championships.  And at an International meet in Australia.

 

    CAT 1       Robert Keller U.S.A.

                    Jan Wilcyznski Poland

                    Steve Lousich N.Z.

 

    CAT 2       Neville Primach R.S.A.

                    Castrilli Alberto Luis Argentina

 

                    Gilson Clemente Da Silva  )

                    Osvaldo Luis Milani           )   Brazil

                    Christine Suzan Wender   )

 

                    Jorge Arce Rodriquez                   )

                    Aderita Monica Villacis Cervantes  )  Equador

 

                    Mani Khosravi     )

                    Ali Hazratzad      ) Iran

                    Farshid Soltani    )

 

                    Gordon Thorogood   Australia

 

SUPPORTIVE SUITS/LOGO

 

The committe has been informed by the Treasurer that as from the first of January 2003, Marathon will not be legal apparel for use at IPF santioned competitions.  Reason - Unpaid licensing fees. 

 

Quest Nutrition U.S.A. (logo) has been accepted for USA PL team use, and legal for the forthcoming 2003 calendar year.

 

BENCH PRESS RULE

 

A question arose as to whether or not the bar taken to the abdomen area may be cause for failure.

 

It was a topic we discussed at our T.C. eve before Congress meeting.

 

The rule says - - - - the lifter must lower the bar to the chest, hold it motionless on the chest - -  -

 

We the T.C. came to the conclusion that the chest ( for the purpose of the rule ) terminates at the base of the sternum/breast bone.

 

Therefore, the bar touching below this, should warrant red lights.

 

It is something I have written on before, remembering the days when certain lifters would lower the bar to the diaphragm and use this as some form of extra propulsion/explosion.

 

I recall a lady referee moving out of the chair and putting a chalk mark on the lifter's shirt, where she expected the bar to be placed!!!!- -                        

                  

                                             + +  + + + + + + +

JOHN STEPHENSON

CHAIRMAN IPF T.C.