Powerlifting Records An archive of strength
Units

Records/ Rules/ International Powerlifting Federation

Federation rules

International Powerlifting Federation Rules

The IPF is the international governing body for tested powerlifting. Its Technical Rulebook sets the standard for weight classes, age categories, and equipment used by IPF national affiliates such as USA Powerlifting and British Powerlifting. All IPF-sanctioned competitions operate under WADA drug-testing rules.

See the current International Powerlifting Federation records →

Weight classes

Bodyweight categories the federation contests separately for record purposes.

Men

Class (kg) Class (lb) Notes
53 117 Sub-Junior and Junior only.
59 130
66 146
74 163
83 183
93 205
105 231
120 265
120+ 265+

Women

Class (kg) Class (lb) Notes
43 95 Sub-Junior and Junior only.
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
Sub-Junior 14 through the calendar year of the lifter's 18th birthday
Junior 19 through the calendar year of the lifter's 23rd birthday (from 1 January of the year the lifter turns 19)
Open 19 and upwards (from 1 January of the year the lifter turns 19); no upper age limit
Master 1 40 through 49 (from 1 January of the year the lifter turns 40)
Master 2 50 through 59 (from 1 January of the year the lifter turns 50)
Master 3 60 through 69 (from 1 January of the year the lifter turns 60)
Master 4 70 and upwards (from 1 January of the year the lifter turns 70) Master 3 and Master 4 lifters are not permitted to compete in the Open class.

Equipment categories

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

Drug-testing policy

All IPF-sanctioned competition is conducted under the WADA Code. The IPF is a WADA signatory and selects athletes for in-competition and out-of-competition testing through the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES). There is no separate untested record category; every IPF world record is set under tested conditions.

Records distinguish tested from untested: No.

Records cascade up the age categories. A Sub-Junior or Junior lift that exceeds the Open record is added to the Open record book, and Master records that exceed the next-younger category are added there too.

Banned-substance reference:  WADA Prohibited List (IPF mirror)

Notable recent changes

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

  1. 2026-03-01 Equipment

    Classic non-supportive "suit" renamed to "singlet" throughout the rulebook.

    The garment specification did not change, only the term used for it. Long-legged singlets are explicitly permitted; the technical controller must verify that no knee sleeves are worn beneath.

    Source: 2026 IPF Technical Rulebook Changes — Explanations, §7 Personal Equipment - Suits

  2. 2026-03-01 Equipment

    Classic lifters now permitted to receive personal assistance when applying knee sleeves.

    Before, only Equipped lifters could be helped with suit and shirt application. The amendment extends that same allowance to Classic.

    Source: 2026 IPF Technical Rulebook Changes — Explanations, §9 Knee Sleeves

  3. 2026-03-01 Other

    Failure cards and paddles wording updated for clarity on bench-press disqualification calls.

    The 2026 rulebook rewrites the language around lateral hand movement on the bar and rib-cage drop after the press command, both grounds for a no-lift. The underlying technical requirement did not change; only the wording is now consistent across §10 and §11.

    Source: 2026 IPF Technical Rulebook Changes — Explanations, §4–§6 Failure Cards / Paddles

  4. 2023-01-01 Other

    Bench press now requires full elbow lockout at the start position before the "Start" command.

    Before, a lifter could take the bar at arm's length and begin the descent without the elbows fully locked. From 1 January 2023 the elbows must be completely locked and the bar held motionless for the head referee's "Start" signal; an unlocked start is a no-lift. The IPF made the change after disputes at the 2022 IPF World Bench Press Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and stated it would not affect roughly 95% of lifters.

    Source: IPF, "Interpretation of new bench rules for athletes and referees" (bench-lockout announcement)

  5. 2021-01-01 Weight classes

    Women's 72 kg class retired and replaced with 69 kg and 76 kg classes.

    The women's lineup grew to eight competition classes plus the open 84+ kg, matching the men's eight-class structure. The 43 kg class remained restricted to Sub-Junior and Junior lifters.

    Source: Irish Powerlifting Federation, IPF Weight Class Change and National Team Selection

Reference materials

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

Related