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Federation rules · Parent: IPF

Powerlifting America Rules

Powerlifting America is the United States member federation of the International Powerlifting Federation, established after USA Powerlifting was removed from the IPF in 2021. It adopts the IPF Technical Rules directly — IPF weight classes, age divisions, and Classic and Equipped categories — and is a fully drug-tested federation under the IPF Anti-Doping Rules and the WADA Prohibited List. Best Lifter is scored on the IPF GL (Goodlift) points formula.

See the current Powerlifting America records →

Weight classes

Bodyweight categories the federation contests separately for record purposes.

Men

Class (kg) Class (lb) Notes
53 117 Contested in the Sub-Junior and Junior divisions only; Open and Masters do not use this class.
59 130
66 146
74 163
83 183
93 205
105 231
120 265
120+ 265+

Women

Class (kg) Class (lb) Notes
43 95 Contested in the Sub-Junior and Junior divisions only; Open and Masters do not use this class.
47 104
52 115
57 126
63 139
69 152
76 168
84 185
84+ 185+

Age divisions

Each division is its own record category at the federation level.

Division Age range Notes
Open 19 and upwards From 1 January of the calendar year the lifter turns 19. Lifters under 14 may compete only at National competitions.
Sub-Junior 14 through the calendar year of turning 18
Junior The calendar year of turning 19 through the calendar year of turning 23
Master 1 The calendar year of turning 40 through 49
Master 2 The calendar year of turning 50 through 59
Master 3 The calendar year of turning 60 through 69
Master 4 The calendar year of turning 70 and upwards

Equipment categories

Separate record lines are kept for each equipment category the federation tracks.

Drug-testing policy

Powerlifting America is a fully drug-tested federation bound by the IPF Anti-Doping Rules, which follow the WADA Code and the WADA Prohibited List, with both in-competition and out-of-competition testing. There is no untested category.

Records distinguish tested from untested: No.

All PA records are set in tested competition; there is no separate untested record category. Athletes can check substances through Global DRO, which PA links from its anti-doping page.

Banned-substance reference:  WADA Prohibited List (applied via the IPF Anti-Doping Rules)

Notable recent changes

Rule changes from the last decade across weight classes, age divisions, equipment, scoring, and eligibility.

  1. 2022 Other

    Powerlifting America held its inaugural national championship season.

    PA ran its first National Bench Press Championships and its first Classic and Equipped National Championships in 2022, its first full domestic season as the IPF affiliate.

    Source: Powerlifting America — Results

  2. 2021-11-09 Affiliation

    The IPF Executive Committee approved Powerlifting America as a provisional member, making it the US affiliate of the IPF.

    PA was created as the IPF's US member federation following USA Powerlifting's removal from the IPF at an Extraordinary Congress in 2021. As the IPF affiliate, PA contests under IPF rules and feeds the US team to IPF World Championships.

    Source: IPF, "Powerlifting America approved as provisional member"

Reference materials

The federation's own published documents this page is sourced from.

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