Can the IPF become Drug-Free?

Jamie is correct on how Russian/Ukrainian teams are managed. He has been there and seen it first hand.

The first line of this article states "the RPF has shown how difficult it is for the IPF to create a truly drug-free lifting platform."

No sport at its highest levels will create a cheater-free status. As long as what is at stake is worth having (an IPF title) there will be cheaters. The difference is the screening for drug use to create the most fair playing field possible.

The internet garbage stems from small fed US lifters who cant wrap their head around the lifting culture thats out there in the world.

Can the IPF become drug free ? Tell me that's not a rhetorical ?

It can but, it won't. No fed will EVER become absolutley drug free unless they deal with the economics of testing EVERYONE for EVERYTHING, both in competition and out of competion.

It also comes down to a fed's credibility. How can you have any if your top lifters, your best lifters, the lifters your crowds want to see, constantly get caught on a blood or urine test ?

IMHO, I don't think people want to actually see a drug free competition, just like they don't want to see some 175 lb man with the Mr. Olympia. People want to see the freakiest man win and the freakiest mother fucker lift the biggest weight. A drug free fed, won't provide that.

Like James Brown and Snoop Dogg said," You gotta pay da coss to be da boss".

peace

As someone who's been around the IPF international scene since its very beginnings I can assure you that, as of now, there are hundreds and hundreds of lifters at that level and from many, many countries, who yearn for the day when they can compete in a truly clean federation. Believe me, a lot more lifters want to see it cleaned up than are happy with drug takers being there.

you know i think thats really true, and that applies to all sports, not just PLing. i dont think people are ready to see home runs not being hit as far, track records to not be broken, etc.

Although i agree with what most of what Jamie said i still think its foolish to think doping in the IPF is a 'eastern european'problem...only

For most of the IPF's inception drug use has been the norm.Only recently has there been a movement to actually do something about the doping...Kinda like the Tour de France:).Maybe in 20 years the IPF will be drug free but then again we will have a whole new generation of drugs.

Powerlifting and AAS are almost hand in hand really.What other sport can u benefit more from using AAS than powerlifting./?

It never has been, it never will be.

The funniest thing about Jamie's statement is "the IPF is the creme of the crop"

Can't agree with that, Carl. Perhaps you're just too jaded, but there are many honorable people out there that celebrate goodness.

Spike Lee said, "Do the right thing".

I agree that allowing the doping to go on will be good for the spectators , but it's a real downside for clean lifters. It's like lifting raw against geared lifters. It's an advantage that is banned by rules but condoned by meet directors and fed. officials. I also don't think it's economically feasible to clean up a federation , hell the Olympics can't do it

Goodness does not equal profitability or credibility.

I never said that there weren't good or honorable people. In fact, I believe that there are honorable peeps almost everywhere you look. But, and this is a big one, when you have competition, someone ALWAYS seeks that competitive advantage.

Jaded as hell, yep. But, I'm also realistic.

Peace

OK. There will always be cheeters, I agree. But is this a reason to quit testing? The cheeters will have won. Who wants that?

We have only a few "democratic" organisations. And only one world wide organisation. Why don't all drug free lifters support the IPF? Politics you say, but you are the ones beeing political. In the IPF the majority vote counts, not the oppinion of the owner.

I find this all very interesting. Many of the comments are by people who have not participated outside the U.S. Let me be blunt: the IPF is so huge that what we do or think here is really of little consequence. If we disagree with drug testing and/or refuse to do it, they will drive on without us. Case in point, they have already done so once. What the splintered American lifting public thinks or wants will not have any weight on the world stage. We are only one vote of more than 100. The IPF has committed to this course with forward movement over the years. Perfect? No, but in may ways the IPF is limited by many of the same things that any non-government organization is hampered by: resources. Does that mean that we should quit? Hell, no. And it certainly doesn't mean that there are not individuals and nations who are less than compliant. But at the end of the day given that this is the will of the majority of the IPF we will do our best at it. There will always be detractors, particularly among those who want to train they way they want to, and among those who see a conspiracy behind every move. There will always be a number of different opinions about how to proceed but in a democratic organization majority carries the day.

The IPF is committed to eliminating doping in powerlifting. Some get caught. Some learn, and some will be left behind. Again, look here in the U.S. Some already have been. LJM

Good post Larry.The IPF does seem to be committed so we'll see.

If the IPF does gain IOC recognition in a way that ensure GOV funding for all countries than its a step forward.

I still think its a pipe dream but who am i..?

Forcing countries to comply with WADA when these countries are broke makes no sense

Talking about the USA?

Yes to some degree..More like other more destitute countries like Canada though

The right thing isn't always a good thing.

From a nihilistic perspective, good and bad just don't exist.

People want to see bad shit and that's what we give them.

I couldn't agree more--- drugs is something we will never get away from-- hell all of our american heroes as we were growing up were drugies ( hulk hogan, sylvester stalone, arnold, etc. just to name a few).

One day, we are all going to be mutants like in comic books with arms that touch our feet and deadlift 2000 pounds... lol!

Ha that's from Bigger Stonger Faster. Great movie if you ask me.

In Denmark the top lifters have to provide whereabouts and from what I have heard from the lifters at the top level they are tested 4-6 times a year mostly out of competition (at home etc.).

You can always find undetectable drugs. But the price and efficiency of insulin/HGH/IGF1 is nowhere comparable to "good ole" testosterone or other anabolic steroids.

Focusing on testing the top lifters is a good way of ensuring the top lifters are clean and provide a good clean ideal to shoot for as a clean lifter.

Sure there will always be cheaters. But using that as an excuse to use drugs brings yourself down to the level of a lying, criminal cheater.
In the US there are plenty of opportunities to compete untested and prove oneself against other steroid driven lifters. Why go to a tested fed and end up robbing clean lifters with more talent, drive, and knowledge of their placing?

for me personly there is more prestige in competing drug free in untested comps where i still manage to win yet dont have to listen to people whingin on about drugs all the time

goodness? nobody would watch, if the olympia was drug free. can you name the world champ right now of the drug free bodybuilding championship? No? I bet everyone on here could name many non tested bodybuilders.

they are already winning. many ipf world champs have popped.

India has now had 4 positives in the last year at International Competitions.

If the IPF is serious about anti doping, why hasn't India been suspended?

I'm an IPF lifter, drug-free.

I want a drug-free federation and I'm ready to support my fed.

those who don't like the IPF or have different opinions are entitled to their opinions and nobody contests them.

My personal view is the drug-users should go to another fed and the IFP should up their efforts of testing.

As to the issue: the IPF (nor any other fed) probably can never be a fully drug-free fed but we can still try our best.

hell ya buddy