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
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.