Federation rules
IPA Rules
The IPA is a US-based federation founded in 1993 and headquartered in York, Pennsylvania. It contests two equipment categories, Raw and Equipped, each crossed with an Amateur (drug-tested) and a Professional (untested) division at the same meet, with separate records for all four. Equipped lifting has no single-ply or multi-ply split and permits multiple layers. A monolift is required at all meets, results are submitted in pounds, and Best Lifter is scored on the Schwartz and Malone formulas.
- Independent US-based federation with international affiliates, including NAP in Russia and FPO in Finland
- Runs a drug-tested Amateur division and an untested Professional division side by side
Updated
IPA overview: meets, lifters and where it competes →
Weight classes
Bodyweight categories the federation contests separately for record purposes.
Men
| Class (kg) | Class (lb) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 52 | 114.5 | |
| 56 | 123.25 | |
| 60 | 132.25 | |
| 67.5 | 148.75 | |
| 75 | 165.25 | |
| 82.5 | 181.75 | |
| 90 | 198.25 | |
| 100 | 220.25 | |
| 110 | 242.5 | |
| 125 | 275.5 | |
| 140 | 308.5 | |
| 140+ | 308.5+ |
Women
| Class (kg) | Class (lb) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | 97 | |
| 48 | 105.75 | |
| 52 | 114.5 | |
| 56 | 123.25 | |
| 60 | 132.25 | |
| 67.5 | 148.75 | |
| 75 | 165.25 | |
| 82.5 | 181.75 | |
| 90 | 198.25 | |
| 100 | 220.25 | Added effective 1 January 2022. |
| 110 | 242.5 | Added effective 1 January 2022. |
| 125 | 275.5 | Added effective 1 January 2022. |
| 140 | 308.5 | Added effective 1 January 2022. |
| 140+ | 308.5+ | Added effective 1 January 2022. |
Age divisions
Each division is its own record category at the federation level.
| Division | Age range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Teenage | 13 and under through 19 | Contested in up-to-13, 14-15, 16-17, and 18-19 brackets. |
| Junior | 20 through 23 | |
| Open | 20 and upwards | |
| Submaster | 33 through 39 | |
| Masters | 40 and upwards | Five-year brackets from 40-44 through 75-79, then 80+. |
| Police | Any age | Occupational division for police officers, men and women. |
Equipment categories
Separate record lines are kept for each equipment category the federation tracks.
-
Raw · records tracked
A belt and wrist wraps. The squat additionally allows a single-layer knee wrap up to 3 m or knee sleeves, but not both; the bench is limited to belt and wrist wraps.
-
Equipped · records tracked
Supportive suits and bench shirts with no single-ply or multi-ply split: the Amateur division allows any number of layers, and the Professional division allows one suit of any thickness plus squat briefs. Knee wraps are permitted.
Drug-testing policy
The IPA runs Professional and Amateur divisions at the same meet. The Amateur division is declared 100% drug-free and is enforced by random urinalysis of Amateur record-setters and Best Lifter winners, selected by the meet director. The Professional division is untested and keeps its own records.
Records distinguish tested from untested: Yes.
Amateur and Professional records are kept separately in both equipment categories. A lifter who tests positive is billed for the test, has all records and accomplishments disqualified, and is suspended from IPA competition for life. An Amateur world-record setter pays a $100 testing fee.
Notable recent changes
Rule changes from the last decade across weight classes, age divisions, equipment, scoring, and eligibility.
- 2023-04-01 Other
Meet results must be submitted in pounds, in the format accepted by OpenPowerlifting.
Source: IPA General Rules
- 2022-01-01 Weight classes
Women's lineup extended above 90 kg with 100, 110, 125, 140, and 140+ classes.
- 2004 Equipment
Raw division added.
Source: IPA "Our Beliefs"
Reference materials
The federation's own published documents this page is sourced from.
Weight class FAQs
What are the IPA men's weight classes?
The IPA men's weight classes are 52, 56, 60, 67.5, 75, 82.5, 90, 100, 110, 125, 140, and 140+ kg.
What are the IPA women's weight classes?
The IPA women's weight classes are 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 67.5, 75, 82.5, 90, 100 (Added effective 1 January 2022), 110 (Added effective 1 January 2022), 125 (Added effective 1 January 2022), 140 (Added effective 1 January 2022), and 140+ (Added effective 1 January 2022) kg.