Powerlifting Records
Units

Data analysis

Tested vs Untested: How much do PEDs boost powerlifting performance?

One way to measure the effect of performance-enhancing drugs is to compare the best records from drug-tested federations against those from untested ones. For each weight class, how much higher is the all-time best untested record than the tested record? A positive gap means untested lifters lifted more. A negative gap means the tested record is higher, which can happen in weight classes where untested feds have fewer competitors.

What the data shows

Compared class for class, untested lifters hold the heavier records in most weight classes, but the edge is narrower than the sport's reputation suggests:

How the weight classes are normalized

Powerlifting uses two weight-class systems. Drug-tested federations in the IPF family use one set of bodyweight classes (for men, 59, 66, 74, 83, 93, 105, and 120 kg); the wider field of untested-inclusive federations uses an older set (52, 56, 60, 67.5, 75, 82.5, 90, 100, 110, 125, and 140 kg). The two barely overlap, so an IPF class such as 83 kg holds tens of thousands of tested entries but only a few hundred untested ones. A comparison there sets a deep field against almost nothing.

This page restricts the comparison to the classes that carry real fields on both sides. Where an IPF class falls within 1.5 kg of one of those classes, its tested record is folded in so the deeper tested field is not lost: the men's 82.5 kg row, for instance, takes the higher of the 82.5 and 83 kg tested records. The heavier IPF classes (93, 105, and 120 kg) have no class within 1.5 kg and are left out; the 90, 100, 110, and 125 kg classes already cover that range with fields on both sides.

Men's Raw Summary

Avg gap (M Squat)
+6%
Avg gap (M Bench)
+11%
Avg gap (M DL)
+13%
Avg gap (M Total)
+11%

Men's Raw Squat

For the men's raw squat, untested lifters outperformed tested lifters in 8 of the 12 weight classes by an average of 6%.

Class Tested record holder Tested Untested record holder Untested Gap Gap (%)
52 kg115 lb Andrzej Stanaszek 290.0 kg640 lb John Redding 181.4 kg400 lb -108.6 kg-239 lb -37.4%
56 kg123 lb Andrzej Stanaszek 292.5 kg645 lb Precious McKenzie 232.5 kg513 lb -60.0 kg-132 lb -20.5%
60 kg132 lb Jeremy Smith 250.0 kg551 lb Aleksey Nikulin 270.0 kg595 lb +20.0 kg+44 lb +8.0%
67.5 kg149 lb Jonathan Garcia 278.0 kg613 lb Lorenzo Jordan 300.0 kg662 lb +22.0 kg+49 lb +7.9%
75 kg165 lb Austin Perkins 341.0 kg752 lb Lorenzo Jordan 325.0 kg717 lb -16.0 kg-35 lb -4.7%
82.5 kg182 lb Russel Orhii 338.0 kg745 lb Jawon Garrison 353.0 kg778 lb +15.0 kg+33 lb +4.4%
90 kg198 lb Jawon Garrison 360.0 kg794 lb John Haack 365.5 kg806 lb +5.5 kg+12 lb +1.5%
100 kg220 lb Lorenzo Wright 361.0 kg796 lb Tyler Williamson 387.5 kg855 lb +26.5 kg+59 lb +7.3%
110 kg243 lb Ashton Rouska 380.5 kg839 lb Hussam Ateyia 397.5 kg877 lb +17.0 kg+38 lb +4.5%
125 kg276 lb Dennis Cornelius 395.0 kg871 lb Colton Engelbrecht 430.0 kg948 lb +35.0 kg+77 lb +8.9%
140 kg309 lb 张延飞 435.0 kg959 lb Andrew Hause 468.0 kg1,032 lb +33.0 kg+73 lb +7.6%
140+ kg309+ lb Devonte Lewis 490.5 kg1,082 lb Craig Foster 465.0 kg1,025 lb -25.5 kg-56 lb -5.2%

Men's Raw Bench

For the men's raw bench, untested lifters outperformed tested lifters in 7 of the 12 weight classes by an average of 11%.

Class Tested record holder Tested Untested record holder Untested Gap Gap (%)
52 kg115 lb Sherif Osman 191.0 kg421 lb Rafał Roch 170.0 kg375 lb -21.0 kg-46 lb -11.0%
56 kg123 lb Sherif Osman 205.5 kg453 lb Roman Belousov 175.0 kg386 lb -30.5 kg-67 lb -14.8%
60 kg132 lb Sherif Osman 210.5 kg464 lb James Pruszinski 197.3 kg435 lb -13.2 kg-29 lb -6.3%
67.5 kg149 lb Lei Liu 225.0 kg496 lb Roman Eremashvili 237.5 kg524 lb +12.5 kg+28 lb +5.6%
75 kg165 lb Akio Yokoyama 250.5 kg553 lb Roman Eremashvili 245.0 kg540 lb -5.5 kg-12 lb -2.2%
82.5 kg182 lb Haidong Zhang 247.5 kg546 lb Andrey Sapozhonkov 247.5 kg546 lb 0.0 kg0 lb 0.0%
90 kg198 lb Ilya Kunygin 250.0 kg551 lb Andrey Sapozhonkov 280.0 kg618 lb +30.0 kg+66 lb +12.0%
100 kg220 lb Jarmo Sohlman 265.0 kg584 lb Oleg Perepechenov 287.5 kg634 lb +22.5 kg+50 lb +8.5%
110 kg243 lb Neil Eddins 277.5 kg612 lb Dave McGuinness 310.0 kg684 lb +32.5 kg+72 lb +11.7%
125 kg276 lb Janne Heittokangas 290.0 kg640 lb Vladimir Kravtsov 303.5 kg669 lb +13.5 kg+30 lb +4.7%
140 kg309 lb John Hays 288.0 kg635 lb Johnnie Harris 320.0 kg706 lb +32.0 kg+71 lb +11.1%
140+ kg309+ lb Pedro Mejias 290.0 kg640 lb Julius Maddox 355.0 kg783 lb +65.0 kg+144 lb +22.4%

Men's Raw Deadlift

For the men's raw deadlift, untested lifters outperformed tested lifters in 8 of the 12 weight classes by an average of 13%.

Class Tested record holder Tested Untested record holder Untested Gap Gap (%)
52 kg115 lb Dalton LaCoe 271.5 kg599 lb Luis Sotelo 250.0 kg551 lb -21.5 kg-47 lb -7.9%
56 kg123 lb Zachariah Anguiano 265.0 kg584 lb Precious McKenzie 250.0 kg551 lb -15.0 kg-33 lb -5.7%
60 kg132 lb Michael Slabic 303.0 kg668 lb Maksim Chursanov 300.0 kg662 lb -3.0 kg-6 lb -1.0%
67.5 kg149 lb Kyle Nowak 344.5 kg760 lb Youssef Abdallah 335.0 kg739 lb -9.5 kg-21 lb -2.8%
75 kg165 lb Ilya Marichev 350.0 kg772 lb Keith Correa 365.0 kg805 lb +15.0 kg+33 lb +4.3%
82.5 kg182 lb Enahoro Asein 383.0 kg845 lb Dmitry Nasonov 405.0 kg893 lb +22.0 kg+49 lb +5.7%
90 kg198 lb Liam Newell 402.5 kg888 lb John Haack 413.0 kg911 lb +10.5 kg+23 lb +2.6%
100 kg220 lb Dustin McFarland 387.5 kg854 lb Krzysztof Wierzbicki 433.5 kg956 lb +46.0 kg+102 lb +11.9%
110 kg243 lb Kalil Zaky 405.0 kg893 lb Danny Grigsby 472.5 kg1,042 lb +67.5 kg+149 lb +16.7%
125 kg276 lb Brandon Dudley 384.0 kg847 lb Danny Grigsby 487.5 kg1,075 lb +103.5 kg+228 lb +27.0%
140 kg309 lb Dorrell Petties-Dahmer 401.0 kg884 lb Colton Engelbrecht 492.5 kg1,086 lb +91.5 kg+202 lb +22.8%
140+ kg309+ lb Max Shethar 382.5 kg844 lb Benedikt Magnússon 440.0 kg970 lb +57.5 kg+127 lb +15.0%

Men's Raw Total

For the men's raw total, untested lifters outperformed tested lifters in 7 of the 12 weight classes by an average of 11%.

Class Tested record holder Tested Untested record holder Untested Gap Gap (%)
52 kg115 lb Andrzej Stanaszek 600.0 kg1,323 lb Qing Zhang 505.0 kg1,114 lb -95.0 kg-209 lb -15.8%
56 kg123 lb Andrzej Stanaszek 600.0 kg1,323 lb Precious McKenzie 610.0 kg1,345 lb +10.0 kg+22 lb +1.7%
60 kg132 lb Sergey Fedosienko 670.5 kg1,478 lb Ramón Vargas 655.5 kg1,445 lb -15.0 kg-33 lb -2.2%
67.5 kg149 lb Kjell Egil Bakkelund 782.0 kg1,724 lb Raymond Phillips 771.1 kg1,700 lb -10.9 kg-24 lb -1.4%
75 kg165 lb Austin Perkins 891.5 kg1,966 lb Keith Correa 815.0 kg1,797 lb -76.5 kg-168 lb -8.6%
82.5 kg182 lb Joseph Borenstein 904.0 kg1,993 lb Jawon Garrison 915.5 kg2,019 lb +11.5 kg+26 lb +1.3%
90 kg198 lb Jawon Garrison 915.0 kg2,017 lb John Haack 1,022.5 kg2,254 lb +107.5 kg+237 lb +11.7%
100 kg220 lb Keenan Lee 940.0 kg2,073 lb John Haack 1,044.0 kg2,302 lb +104.0 kg+230 lb +11.1%
110 kg243 lb Ashton Rouska 968.0 kg2,134 lb Jamal Browner 1,052.5 kg2,321 lb +84.5 kg+187 lb +8.7%
125 kg276 lb Rondel Hunte 1,002.5 kg2,210 lb Colton Engelbrecht 1,155.0 kg2,547 lb +152.5 kg+336 lb +15.2%
140 kg309 lb Nathan Wilhelm 962.5 kg2,122 lb Colton Engelbrecht 1,225.0 kg2,701 lb +262.5 kg+579 lb +27.3%
140+ kg309+ lb Devonte Lewis 1,136.5 kg2,506 lb Daniel Bell 1,127.5 kg2,486 lb -9.0 kg-20 lb -0.8%

Women's Raw Summary

Avg gap (W Squat)
+13%
Avg gap (W Bench)
+12%
Avg gap (W DL)
+8%
Avg gap (W Total)
+12%

Women's Raw Squat

For the women's raw squat, untested lifters outperformed tested lifters in 8 of the 11 weight classes by an average of 13%.

Class Tested Tested Untested Untested Gap Gap (%)
44 kg97 lb Stephanie Canola 133.0 kg293 lb 伍雯希 125.0 kg276 lb -8.0 kg-17 lb -6.0%
48 kg106 lb Tiffany Chapon 170.5 kg376 lb Maria Ramos 170.0 kg375 lb -0.5 kg-1 lb -0.3%
52 kg115 lb Pleun Dekkers 182.5 kg403 lb Jenn Rotsinger 167.5 kg370 lb -15.0 kg-33 lb -8.2%
56 kg123 lb Sara Naldi 200.5 kg442 lb Marianna Gasparyan 220.0 kg485 lb +19.5 kg+43 lb +9.7%
60 kg132 lb Christiane Hazzard 188.5 kg416 lb Marianna Gasparyan 230.5 kg508 lb +42.0 kg+93 lb +22.3%
67.5 kg149 lb Carola Garra 227.0 kg501 lb Marina Castillo Pardo 227.5 kg502 lb +0.5 kg+1 lb +0.2%
75 kg165 lb Cranon Worford 240.0 kg529 lb Kristy Hawkins 282.5 kg623 lb +42.5 kg+94 lb +17.7%
82.5 kg182 lb Amanda Lawrence 256.0 kg565 lb Kristy Hawkins 290.0 kg640 lb +34.0 kg+75 lb +13.3%
90 kg198 lb Marina Shelton 227.5 kg502 lb Samantha Rice 282.5 kg623 lb +55.0 kg+122 lb +24.2%
100 kg220 lb Brie Levy 245.0 kg540 lb Samantha Rice 272.5 kg601 lb +27.5 kg+61 lb +11.2%
110 kg243 lb Brie Levy 255.0 kg562 lb Kiersten Scurlock 265.0 kg584 lb +10.0 kg+22 lb +3.9%

Women's Raw Bench

For the women's raw bench, untested lifters outperformed tested lifters in 5 of the 11 weight classes by an average of 12%.

Class Tested Tested Untested Untested Gap Gap (%)
44 kg97 lb Lucy Ogechukwu Ejike 127.5 kg281 lb Jessica Goldstein 79.4 kg175 lb -48.1 kg-106 lb -37.7%
48 kg106 lb Esther Osa Oyema 135.0 kg298 lb Samyra Abweh 97.5 kg215 lb -37.5 kg-82 lb -27.8%
52 kg115 lb Joy Ganiyatu Onaolapo 131.0 kg289 lb Małgorzata Hałas-Koralewska 130.0 kg287 lb -1.0 kg-2 lb -0.8%
56 kg123 lb Fatma Omar 142.0 kg313 lb Blake Tobin 133.8 kg295 lb -8.2 kg-18 lb -5.8%
60 kg132 lb Mae Angeli Saguil 137.0 kg302 lb Małgorzata Hałas-Koralewska 145.0 kg320 lb +8.0 kg+18 lb +5.8%
67.5 kg149 lb Agata Sitko 158.0 kg349 lb Diana Sergeeva 155.0 kg342 lb -3.0 kg-6 lb -1.9%
75 kg165 lb Agata Sitko 160.0 kg353 lb Diana Sergeeva 170.5 kg376 lb +10.5 kg+23 lb +6.6%
82.5 kg182 lb Agata Sitko 156.0 kg344 lb Shannon Nash 172.5 kg381 lb +16.5 kg+37 lb +10.6%
90 kg198 lb Melanie Stewart 157.5 kg347 lb Małgorzata Kopiec 183.0 kg404 lb +25.5 kg+56 lb +16.2%
100 kg220 lb Brie Levy 147.5 kg325 lb Małgorzata Kopiec 180.0 kg397 lb +32.5 kg+72 lb +22.0%
110 kg243 lb Brie Levy 157.5 kg347 lb Kiersten Scurlock 155.0 kg342 lb -2.5 kg-5 lb -1.6%

Women's Raw Deadlift

For the women's raw deadlift, untested lifters outperformed tested lifters in 7 of the 11 weight classes by an average of 8%.

Class Tested Tested Untested Untested Gap Gap (%)
44 kg97 lb Jennifer Genato 162.5 kg359 lb Payal Ghosh 170.0 kg375 lb +7.5 kg+17 lb +4.6%
48 kg106 lb Heather Connor 212.5 kg469 lb Maria Ramos 190.0 kg419 lb -22.5 kg-49 lb -10.6%
52 kg115 lb Farhanna Farid 220.5 kg486 lb Alisha Luna 210.0 kg463 lb -10.5 kg-23 lb -4.8%
56 kg123 lb Joy Nnamani 238.0 kg525 lb Stefanie Cohen 230.0 kg507 lb -8.0 kg-17 lb -3.4%
60 kg132 lb Nicole Maranan 216.0 kg476 lb Whitney Baxley 236.0 kg521 lb +20.0 kg+44 lb +9.3%
67.5 kg149 lb Agata Sitko 260.0 kg573 lb Barbara Lee 250.5 kg553 lb -9.5 kg-21 lb -3.7%
75 kg165 lb Chisom Ezeh 263.0 kg580 lb Kristy Hawkins 280.0 kg618 lb +17.0 kg+38 lb +6.5%
82.5 kg182 lb Ziana Azariah 270.0 kg595 lb Chakera Ingram 282.5 kg623 lb +12.5 kg+28 lb +4.6%
90 kg198 lb Erica Enarusai 262.5 kg579 lb Samantha Rice 297.5 kg656 lb +35.0 kg+77 lb +13.3%
100 kg220 lb Michelle Akpala 250.0 kg551 lb Samantha Rice 280.0 kg618 lb +30.0 kg+66 lb +12.0%
110 kg243 lb Iva Liou 245.0 kg540 lb Kiersten Scurlock 257.5 kg568 lb +12.5 kg+28 lb +5.1%

Women's Raw Total

For the women's raw total, untested lifters outperformed tested lifters in 8 of the 11 weight classes by an average of 12%.

Class Tested Tested Untested Untested Gap Gap (%)
44 kg97 lb Leanne Le 350.0 kg772 lb Stacia Cambra 350.0 kg772 lb 0.0 kg0 lb 0.0%
48 kg106 lb Tiffany Chapon 453.0 kg999 lb Maria Ramos 455.0 kg1,003 lb +2.0 kg+5 lb +0.4%
52 kg115 lb Megan-Li Smith 486.5 kg1,073 lb Alisha Luna 475.0 kg1,047 lb -11.5 kg-25 lb -2.4%
56 kg123 lb Sara Naldi 530.5 kg1,170 lb Marianna Gasparyan 552.5 kg1,218 lb +22.0 kg+49 lb +4.1%
60 kg132 lb Mae Angeli Saguil 509.5 kg1,124 lb Brittany Bowles 581.0 kg1,281 lb +71.5 kg+158 lb +14.0%
67.5 kg149 lb Agata Sitko 628.0 kg1,385 lb Sharon Eggleton 590.0 kg1,301 lb -38.0 kg-84 lb -6.1%
75 kg165 lb Agata Sitko 635.0 kg1,400 lb Kristy Hawkins 720.0 kg1,588 lb +85.0 kg+188 lb +13.4%
82.5 kg182 lb Amanda Lawrence 648.0 kg1,429 lb Kristy Hawkins 720.0 kg1,588 lb +72.0 kg+159 lb +11.1%
90 kg198 lb Marina Shelton 577.5 kg1,273 lb Samantha Rice 743.0 kg1,638 lb +165.5 kg+365 lb +28.7%
100 kg220 lb Brie Levy 617.5 kg1,362 lb Samantha Rice 715.5 kg1,578 lb +98.0 kg+216 lb +15.9%
110 kg243 lb Brie Levy 640.0 kg1,411 lb Kiersten Scurlock 677.5 kg1,494 lb +37.5 kg+83 lb +5.9%