IPF Warns Lifters against World Police & Fire Games

I would like to warn all athletes and officials that if you participate in any IPF event, you are associating yourself with a bunch of ASSHOLES.

www.Ryanopower.com
www.AndersonPowerlifting.com

What is with the IPF...? Is this a page from the Bush administration "If you are not with us, you are against us?" Dictating how or where or with whom an athlete wants to test their metal with is a personal choice. As powerlifters, you have to compete when you are healthy as injuries, which are part of the sport, can derail us for a good chunk of time. Just one more reason I left the IPF. IPF the "ID Powerlifting Federation."

Really is a bunch of crap, didn't some of the IPF lifters just lift in the Raw Unity Meet in Fl? That was not sanctioned or ran by the IPF either, guess they are so powerful they can Pick and choose. Even last year too, even had lifters there that had been kicked out too. So now tell us what is really bothering them, someone not paying them enough???

The IPF seriously has to take it down a notch-- if someone competes outside your rules at a competition that isn't run by your rules than don't get involved. Worry about who is competing within your fed and then worry about them playing by your rules. How can one organization tell its lifters what they can and can't do. ARE WE STILL IN AMERICA??

I used to be a member of the USAPL, but I just find it hard to understand why they feel they can dictate where and when someone who is a member of their federation can lift. Its almost as if you are siging a "no compete" clause when you join the IPF and its member nations. At least there are other Feds out there to lift in. Anyone going to Powerpalooza in York, PA on April 18th? Its an IPA sanctioned meet put on by big Gene.

-Joe

Interesting how they are very strict on where their lifters are allowed to compete, however no suspension was leveled for certain lifters at the Raw Unity Meet. The IPF tries to be a squeeky clean organization but they do nothing but take steps backwards with this type of ridiculous mindset.

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Communism is alive and well! Whatever happened to athletes rights??

how can anyone who lives in america with 99 feds to choose from want to lift for the IPF with all the horseshit handed down to them? i cant imagine it being fun.

My fault. I was just assuming that since the USAPL is a member fed of the IPF that this rule applies to them. I should not have assumed as much.

-Joe

The IPF takes a lot of criticism, as does the USAPL. But Eric courageously respects these rules, weighing the benefits of having USAPL lifters (Tuchsherer) vs. possibly alienating others.

this wouldn't be an issue if the Police and Fire organisers agreed not to allow DRUG CHEATS to lift or officiate.

AHAHAHAHAHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! I just sharted!! They just keep getting better! Sure does give them the monopoly now huh?!

Why do people view it as strange that a sporting governing body would place restrictions on where a member competes outside of said governing body? Partciulary in competetions which may be opposed to the ethos of the governing body in question.

It's stupid to think you should be able to lift exactly were you want and with whatever fed you want, despite signing a form of contract when you sign up to a fed.

does it never stop? it seems like every day i get another reason not to do another usapl/ipf meet...

There were no IPF suspended lifters or judges at RUM. Eric made quite sure of that and even checked with Larry Maile to make sure.

Matsumoto better not be lifting in it, because I don't want to incur the most serious of serious penalties imposed by the IPF(Imperial "rich" Peters Federation)...lol

Holy shitsky, reading this, I almost spit out me coffee again...lol

i like the usapl and ipf just because I think they have the best competition as far as collegiate and junior lifters, however, the competition is more diluted througout other feds in the open meets

God forbid the hard working police and firemen have a chance to get together for a friendly competition and get a chance to compete with fellow officers. I competed in Orlando at the Police and Fire game this past year and I met some great lifters from around the world. I am glad that I went and I will never have anything to do with the ipf

"Why do people view it as strange that a sporting governing body would place restrictions on where a member competes outside of said governing body?"

Duh. Let me guess comrade...you wear a Che Guevara shirt to work out in and you chuckle quietly to yourself over a Strabucks at the unwashed masses that "just don't get" how "smart Marx was"???

You don't find it strange or untoward that an *amateur* athletic association is both anti-competitive and actively pursues guilt-by association?

The drug issue is just a dodge...the IPF arrogates itself the "right" to penalize its lifters for competing in any other "equivalent" org, and treats folks who may compete on the same platform with drug cheats as the drug cheats themselves...maybe the wannabe-nanny-state-in-waiting IPF thinks that "evil mojo" will rub off???

No...it's just a naked power play by admin-weenies who dreamed of working in the UN, but had to settle for a gig in the IPF. Similar to Wackers with all the antennas on their cars pretending to be genuine EMS personnel, only these guys have IPF lapel badges and rulers.

This fed is a joke, in that nobody but a select few people can earn a coin from powerlifting anyway. 99.99% of us do it as a fun hobby, and yet you get these douche nozzles telling us were we can or can't lift.
I am no Ed Coan or Ryan C. but I do my fair share of competitions each year, and I am so thankful that I lift in organizations that understand that people pay hard earned money to participate mainly for comraderie and to challenge themselves. The IPF needs to go play in traffic...seriously!!!

This is the kind of shit I used to hear about when i first started powerlifing. Was going to do IPF/bwla but decided I would prefer to go with a organisation which promotes powerlifting and doesn't try to shit on its own members so went for BPC

good for you that you compete, but your comments are uneducated remarks about something deeper than you take the time to learn. the ipf does not want to ban lifters for the fun of it, they were merely pointing out the meet was a non-ipf contest. they are informing ipf caliber lifters, not you, or otherwise they would of said local lifters/non ipf lifters. remember you ARE entitled to your opinion, but also remember that your words are not laws of the land or ipf for that matter.

what a GREAT GREAT HILARIOUS post to start off this thread. Roger, I'm dying lol.

technically speaking, this would only affect USAPL lifters who only lift at the National and World level events, who are also policeman and fireman. At least in America it doesn't really affect many....

seriously though... why would you want to subject yourself to this?

Putt Houston

the reason to GO to nationals is to try to make an ipf world team. saying it doesn't affect "nationals" lifters is crap.

If you don't want to deal with the ipf, don't do an affiliate nationals. why make the team if you don't intend to go.

so it's correct if usapl says "it doesn't affect us, or our nationals". if you don't want to win a world team slot, by way of winning at the nationals in usapl, WHY BOTHER TO DO THEIR NATIONALS.

it does indeed "affect nationals". one of the few reasons to lift in with the usapl is to make an ipf team. otherwise, there are other tested feds and opportunities, or you can lift against the unregulated lifters and maybe beat them too. maybe even for money.

ipf has overreached again, and continues to do so. by the time they get done destroying the individual lifts and suspending some lifters and not others, it just gets old.

right. tim zee. you arent impressed with the numbers being put up by ipf caliber lifters and i don't think those lifters are impressed with you and your total as well. powerlifting watch is a news forum and they are reporting a press release by the ipf aimed toward it's members. having fun as you say it may not be a top priority for the elite in the usapl or ipf, but i think you maybe right when you say that the ipf is afraid of people having fun while competing and that someday it will be ultimately their demise......sic

Majority rules? How many people do you think contribute to this forum? It is by no means a majority of those involved in powerlifting! Ha ve you ever attended an IPF Worlds? I think you would be far more impressed with the numbers when you see how they are achieved.

Top lifters don't lift to have fun - they lift to win.

Very true, a top IPF lifter (good guy in his own right), who will remain nameless, said when someone criticized his performance at '08 worlds that this "was after all, just a hobby". I think if you asked, say, Chuck Vogelpohl, for instance, if this is a "hobby", he'd tell you it's a way of life, and that you're in it to win it.

I was thinking more of the indirect link that you absolutely have to participate in USAPL Nationals to participate at IPF Worlds, but someone else has already realized what I was getting at.....

If that's the case, Why didn't Siders do '07 Nationals and compete against Gillingham and Lewis and just skip the World meet during his suspension? lol.. not doing an IPF meet in America would be easy, you just don't travel out of the country. I have always been under the impression that USAPL Nationals is a recognized IPF event, although not sanctioned directly by them.

" the ipf does not want to ban lifters for the fun of it, they were merely pointing out the meet was a non-ipf contest."

Sure! They were merely pointing out that IPF lifters can't lift in comparable non-IPF contests.

It's nothing more and nothing less than anti-competitive arrogance...taking advantage of lifters in countries where they are the only game in town simply because they can. In those countries the IPF effectively controls the regional/local lifters.

So fine...stand up for the IPF bullying lifters in other parts of the world. Good job man!

You guys would seriously complain if you took park in other sports than powerlifting...

They offer up similar clauses... especially since WADA like them.

The day the IPF starts paying out six figure salaries to their world champs is the day they can justify trying to strongarm their pay-to-play customers.

Stay Strong,
Sean
HardcorePowerlifting.com

What? No "Boom-chicka-waa-waa" from Putt? How do we know it's not someone trolling?

An IPF title is more impressive and sough out in the world than one of your events so don't lose too much sleep over it.

This is a little off topic, but Sean, please define:
"old school lifting socks"
I just want to know if I have any.

Old School Lifting Socks are the just-below-the-knee striped sweat socks.

How does someone "sough" something out?

I can't debate this point because I don't recall ever seeing someone sough something.

Almost as impressive as someone who is so confident in their position that they insist on posting anonymously. The day I can quit my job and start earning a living in the IPF I will accept these BS rules.

The stance the IPF has taken towards the World Police & Fire Games is unfortunate. Especially since the individuals hurt the most are the lifters. The World Police & Fire Games have done nothing but faithfully supported and promoted power lifting and the IPF for years. The WPFG had utilized the IPF as a Governing Body because of the structure and consistency of the rules. The officials were some of the best in the world. The meets have been outstanding. These meets have truly been world-class meets. The competition and camaraderie has been top notch, all with the lifter in mind. For anyone who has competed at the Games, they would say that this was true.
The term “World” doesn’t have to mean elite either. In our Games, we welcome the first time lifter as much as the lifetime lifter. In fact, any fulltime law enforcement, firefighting, and corrections lifter are welcome, regardless of the affiliations that they belong to or support at home.

The IPF’s warning shot has put all IPF lifters wanting to compete in the World Police & Fire Games in a predicament, especially those in Europe, Australia, and Asia. I am saddened that politics have placed an undue burden on those who love the sport.

Respectfully,

James A. King
Director
World Police & Fire Games Federation

jim, i have read many of your posts on this forum pertaining to the ipf and they all have a negative tone in regard. for ie. when somebody compares your friend ryan celli lifting toward a usapl or ipf level lifter you get defensive. the questions i have for you are: are these your opinions formed from your experiences with the ipf or did you obtain alot of the information second hand? what is anti competitive arrogance?

it is good that ipf is the "only game in town" they bring opportunity for achievement. move to prauge and start your own league with your own rules and then everyone on this forum will bash your decisions.

i don't like the nfl's stance on the low-sock or no towel wearing rule, but i still watch, and the balk rule in baseball is a tough one to understand, but i still watch. this is an ipf rule in which they were warning lifters. nothing against the men in uniform, but their worlds is not comparable to any worlds the ipf governs.

i'm just stating a few facts.

In MLB and in the NFL they pay out millions of dollars to the athletes.

When you give athletes the money to live a dream life you can come up with a lot of additional rules and regulations for them to follow.

But when the athletes are paying to play, like they do in the IPF, you really aren't in a position to threaten anyone with a banning or suspension.

sean, you missed the point, being larger governing sporting organizations have rules that have to be maintained for the integrity of sport. i was not talking about a pro's salary. some rules make sense, others may not.

every lifter spends some money on powerlifting either for a two dollar block of chalk or hundreds on travel. through all of the U.S. federations, many have different rules, whether it length of knee wrap or no wraps at all. they are rules that a lifter must adhere to or the director or a federation official will not let them compete even though the particpant likely paid an entry or a hotel's night stay.

so my analogy, on topic, which was about professional organizations that have rules that must be followed, is not whether a powerlifter makes money, spends money or doesn't make any at all, but that an ipf lifter adhere to the rules. i applaud the ipf for releasing a memo to remind their athletes of the rules. i do not see too many other federations taking initiative to preserve the sport. it is the ipf, so ipf rules apply. don't like it? lift where you do like it

"jim, i have read many of your posts on this forum pertaining to the ipf and they all have a negative tone in regard."

I don't think that is the case. Yes I do have a big hard-on for bureaucracies...you got me there :-) But...there is a lot I like about the IPF and by extension the USAPL. I shouldn't have to disclaim this but I will: I have nothing against the competitors at all some of the best folks on or off the platform! My disagreement is with these rules and the rationale behind them.
Personally I'd love to be good enough to someday qualify at that level; given that I lift raw that's kinda out of the picture, even if I was that good which I am not.
That being said what I do NOT like about the IPF are the monopolistic, anti-competitive restrictions that they attempt to force lifters into. If you seem to see me being negative a lot...it's because we argue about it a lot: these rules are hot button issues that everyone seems to get hot and bothered about every few months...like now. I suppose you can include my opinions on Juries overstepping their bounds...but I doubt you'd find anyone else who likes that either.

"for ie. when somebody compares your friend ryan celli lifting toward a usapl or ipf level lifter you get defensive."

I know for a fact that this is wishful thinking on your part i.e.: never happened. :-)

"are these your opinions formed from your experiences with the ipf or did you obtain alot of the information second hand? what is anti competitive arrogance?"

If you could define "second hand" that would be helpful...what are you trying to get at? I can read the rule book just like anyone else. Is my reading about the IPF warning the lifters away at the top of the thread "second hand"? Does that mean I can't speak about it?

Anti-competitive arrogance...in this day and age, attempting to interfere with the basic right of free association for basically volunteer amateur lifters and organizers...yeah I'd say that is monopolistic, read: anti-competitive, and also arrogant. I might add totally unnecessary. The IPF has a good product and doesn't need barbed wire fence and guys with nightsticks to keep lifters on the reservation, figuratively speaking. Or at least they shouldn't.

Last time I checked the TRUE Professional sports leagues do not have league-level rules equivalent to the IPF rules...actually those kind of rules probably would be either illegal or legally unenforceable in most cases (at least in the USA): Larry Fitzgerald gets suspended by the NFL for playing in a flag football tournament with another NFL'er on suspension for doping?!? Are you kidding me? (sounds kinda dumb in this context doesn't it?) Or maybe because he decided to do Arena ball in the offseason??? yeah right.

"nothing against the men in uniform, but their worlds is not comparable to any worlds the ipf governs."

Then why does it run afoul of the IPF rules? Maybe you should read them??? Why did they suddenly decide to apply the rules this time anyway?

"i'm just stating a few facts."

I guess you think you are. It reads more like making some assertions as fact though.

I believe we should take a look at the topic of "old school lifting socks". I firmly believe that the carryover you get from said socks is to great for the IPF. Furthermore, are we talking single, double or triple color ring around the top. I believe according to the rulebook of the IPF the sock must have only a single ring around the top to count as truly single-ply. Anyone else have any thoughts? I think any number of rings around the top of the sock should be allow just so long as there is no "extra" mending going on around the toe, or along the seams. I think that reinforced socks are where we must unify and say enough is enough.

What if the socks were sewn by Darren Matsumoto's friends and/or family? Would that qualify for a 3 year suspension?

How about if Ed Coan wore the socks in the gym, sold them to a vintage clothing store and then an unsuspecting lifter purchased them and wore them at nationals? Would they be banned for life via association with Coan's feet and calves?

Or if someone wore the socks while laying on their couch reading about a different powerlifting federation in PLUSA. Would the IPF have a method for sensing that these old school lifting socks had been used in such a way and would the IPF issue a letter of warning?

All of this someone compares to the NFL having something known as a "no towel" rule.

And how much $$$ would a mfg. have to pay in order to get the single ply, four stripe socks approved by the IPF Technical Committee?

Stay Strong,
Sean
HardcorePowerlifting.com

More of the USAPL/IPF's holier-than-thou superiority trip.The people that buy into that fed's b.s. blow me away.Their meets are so boring they would put a meth addict to sleep.Truthfully there is not one good thing I can say about them and everyday the crap they come out with gets more ridiculous.

The World Police and Fire Games is a competitive arena for lifting but its more of a big party and a good time among fellow cops and firefighters. Everyone's there to have a good time and enjoy the camaraderie. For the IPF to stick there nose into this reeks of petty politics. Police and Firemen get their own internal testing from their agency. There is no reason to conduct testing because someone who tested positive could obviously lose their job. Who wants that? Why is the IPF threatened by this unsanctioned meet? Don't they have better things to do than to be dictators to amateur lifters? Rules need to be followed but the IPF is over-reaching on this one and needs to back off. This is an unnecessary intrusion on individuals with no contract with the IPF.
Everyone I know competes for fun because its a FKN HOBBY!

The IPF and its affiliates probably shouldn't mess with The POLICE and Fire Games.

A few special investigations on the part of the DEA and the hunt for rebuilding the worlds team would have to begin, LOL.

jim, not bad. thanks for your response to our discussion on this topic. when we can debate without getting hostile, then the points discussed by you are clearer.

i for one have lifted competitivly for over 25 years in every federation except for the newer ones in this decade. i have years of ipf exeperience. and your right it is/was tough. but what someone said earlier above is true that at that level, it is a way of life...not just a hobby. local meets provide that atmosphere where it is about fun and comraderie and that is what is great about the sport.

as for applying the rules this time, i do not have an answer for you, just an opinion. which is, it has been brought to the forefront in recent years with big name lifters of today crossing over, the ed rule is dumb. i personally stand in the middle on this because i simply don't know why (specifically) the ipf has this rule, but i'm for the lifter and support what rules they have to adhere to, no matter how dumb, because they are in it on an entirely different level and i respect what these guys have to go through.

good luck to you and your raw career.

lets just hope that if a fire or armed robbery doesn't invole ipf high ups. then the fire and crime could only be dealt with after getting a membership card.

thats against the human rights.
Everybody in the the free world can decide if he/she want to compete were ever they want.
IPF should be suspended in US and Europe and in every country with "human rights".

they did not learn from the history.
Frantz and south Africa!

I'm a firefighter at an airport in Canada , competed in 17 years ago, found a reason to get into decent shape. Met some very good people first and great lifters second. Actually had what I would call one of the best times ever. Traded some tshirts and lucked out to medal in a sport that only people that compete in can appreciate. Was a member in the IPF and I'm sorry I just don't get it. This meet was alot more like a local neighbour hood gym meet, it just kinda had that feel. I guess you had to be there, I'm lookin forward to New York in 2yrs,

Staff wrote:

The IPF has issued a statement warning lifters to not compete in the 2009 World Police and Fire Games. The statement says that lifters who violate the warning risk suspension by the IPF for participating in an unsanctioned event and/or for competing against suspended lifters or officials.

The Games will be held July 31 - August 9 in British Columbia, Canada. The Bench Press event will be held August 3-5 and the Push Pull event is slated for August 6-8.

The IPF statement: "All IPF nations, athletes & officials should note this is not an IPF run or sanctioned event. The IPF has been advised that athletes or officials under suspension will be allowed to participate in the Powerlifting events at the Games. The Powerlifting events have been called "Bench Press" & "Push Pull". Any IPF lifter or official taking part in these Games thus runs the risk of contravening the IPF rules regarding participation in non-sanctioned events & against suspended athletes or officials. The IPF strongly advises athletes & officials to not participate in these Games."

Better send a letter to IPF official Bill Ennis. He was there officiating at the World Police and Fire Games. We'll see if their threats hold any water. Go for it IPF.