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Federation rules · Parent: IPL

USPA Rules

The USPA is the US affiliate of the International Powerlifting League. It contests four equipment divisions (Raw, Classic Raw, Single Ply, Multi Ply) and runs separate tested and untested competitions, with separate records for each. Best Lifter is scored on the DOTS formula, with the McCulloch age coefficient added for masters.

See IPL records (includes USPA) →

Weight classes

Bodyweight categories the federation contests separately for record purposes.

Men

Class (kg) Class (lb) Notes
52 115
56 123
60 132
67.5 149
75 165
82.5 182
90 198
100 220
110 243
125 276
140 309
140+ 309+

Women

Class (kg) Class (lb) Notes
44 97
48 106
52 115
56 123
60 132
67.5 149
75 165
82.5 182
90 198
100 220
110 243
110+ 243+

Age divisions

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

Division Age range Notes
Junior 10-12 10 through 12
Junior 13-15 13 through 15
Junior 16-17 16 through 17
Junior 18-19 18 through 19
Junior 20-23 20 through 23
Open 13 through 85+ Minimum competitive age is 13; under-13 lifters may compete as guests only, without records or awards.
Submaster 35 through 39
Master 1 40 through 49 Masters records are kept in 5-year bands (40-44, 45-49, and so on through 85+).
Master 2 50 through 59
Master 3 60 through 69
Master 4 70 through 79
Master 5 80 and upwards

Equipment categories

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

Drug-testing policy

The USPA runs both tested and untested competition. Tested meets are sanctioned separately and carry a "Tested" prefix in the contest name. Testing is by urinalysis: the top 10% of lifters by DOTS score are tested along with random selections, and any world-record setter may be tested. The USPA uses its own banned-substance list rather than the WADA Prohibited List.

Records distinguish tested from untested: Yes.

Tested and untested contests keep separate results, records, awards, and Best Lifters; a tested record can only be set in a tested competition. A lifter who fails a test is barred for life from USPA tested meets but may still compete untested.

Notable recent changes

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

  1. 2022 Scoring

    Replaced the Wilks formula with DOTS for Best Lifter scoring.

    The 2018 IPL/USPA rulebook scored Best Lifter and teams on Wilks; current rulebooks use DOTS, with the McCulloch coefficient for masters. The exact effective date is not given in a dated changelog; it is bracketed between the 2018 edition (Wilks) and the 2022 edition (DOTS).

    Source: USPA Rulebook 2025v1, §1.5 Best Lifter

  2. 2022 Weight classes

    Women's lineup expanded from ten classes to twelve.

    The 2018 IPL/USPA women's classes topped out at a single 90+ kg class. Current rulebooks add 100 kg, 110 kg, and a 110+ kg class, matching the twelve-class men's structure. As with the scoring change, the precise effective date is not published in a dated changelog.

    Source: USPA Rulebook 2025v1, §1.3 Bodyweight Categories

Reference materials

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

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