Information by the Medical Committee

The medical committee (chaired by Dr. Bernie Miller) is the administrative arm of the IPF that has among other roles, the responsibility for processing Therapeutic Use Exemptions or "TUE's". These come in two forms, standard and also expedited. The original purpose of the TUE process was to enable lifters with justified medical conditions to use medication normally banned by the World Anti-doping Authority (WADA) either in training or during competition.

The MC can not overstress how critical it is that each lifter fully declare all medications, prescription or "over the counter", to their team physician and coaches. WADA does not accept "I did not know" as a reason or excuse for doping violations. All lifters are responsible for what goes into their bodies. A simple review of the WADA list (see websites below) can save a suspension and loss of placings and medals. It can also prevent a very expensive doping fine for the federation. Most lifters do not realize that WADA audits the anti-doping activities and decisions of all affiliated sports including the IPF. This means that upon review WADA can reject a previously approved TUE. Obviously, this is a very serious issue and critical to our position as a leader in doping controlled competition.

The Doping Hearing Panel (DHP) takes a very pro-lifter approach, as does the MC. We critically review every case and search to find a possible explanation for adverse analytical findings. In 2006, we were able to prevent two suspensions (1 Finland, 1 Ukraine). In one case, a TUE had expired but the lifter declared the medication with documentation at time of weigh-in. The second case involved emergency treatment with a banned substance that was deemed appropriate for medical care at the time. In an emergency the lifter may not be able to access the WADA list. In many countries physicians are not concerned with WADA and do not necessarily discuss every medication given with the patient beforehand. At the recent USAPL nationals, a lifter had an emergency at the time of contest. The IPF MC chair was consulted in addition to other MC members. The USAPL MC was able to keep this lifter in the meet while still managing his health condition. Of course, we had the luxury of cell phone and pager coverage and some federations may not be able to respond as quickly. Outside of emergencies, the MC will as a rule not grant "retroactive" TUE to cover an adverse analytical finding. IPF is also expanding its education program so that all lifters, in all regions are more aware of the TUE process as well as the WADA list (see websites below).

Recently, the IPF has ruled that the TUE process can be applied to lifters unable to achieve "full extension" of elbows despite being fully "locked out". This exception should mainly apply to lifters with traumatic injuries/surgery and certain congenital and acquired diseases.

Required documentation includes
1) radiology report (X-ray or similar),
2) diagnosis or name of disease/injury,
and
3) quantified limit of function in degrees (e.g. 15 loss of extension).

All three components must be provided by an appropriate health care professional. At present, the standard for elbow TUE is a maximum deficit of no more than 15 degrees. This exemption only applies to elbows, no other body part will be considered. The IPF MC recognizes the need to include as many people as reasonable in our sport, but we must also maintain the technical standard of performing a given lift. Therefore, knees that do not lock out will unlikely ever pass a squat or deadlift on the IPF platform. Similarly, we recognize the difficulty referees will face in judging uneven extension and uneven lock-out when one arm only is involved. Even when TUE is awarded, we suggest kindly reminding the platform officials at the time of competition. The goal is for arms that are truly locked out at less than 180 degrees to be recognized as a legal lift.

Best regards,

Bernie Miller DC: Chair IPF Medical Committee
(baktalk@knology.net)

Chris Calvano MD PhD: IPF Medical Committee and Doping
Hearing Panel (chris_calvano@yahoo.com) 

WADA website: www.wada-ama.org

TUE: http://www.wada-ama.org/en/exemptions.ch2

Permitted/banned substances:
http://www.wada-ama.org/rtecontent/document/2007_List_En.pdf