USAPL's Impending Exodus (Probably Doesn't Matter)
Many of USAPL's top lifters have expressed interest in returning to the IPF after the success of the Sheffield. Here's why I don't think it really matters all that much.
It was as though the International Powerlifting Federation’s (IPF) tarnished reputation throughout the powerlifting community was practically cleansed overnight. The Sheffield Powerlifting Championships, a contest hosted by SBD in its namesake hometown of Sheffield in the UK, gathered a tiny handful of the world’s top powerlifters to do battle. It was an unprecedented success and a spectacle whose appeal extended far beyond the small powerlifting community. Despite years of pandemic-induced delay, the final product was worth waiting for. Its format, predicated on breaking world records, the rapid pace of the meet thanks to its small roster, and the elite strength of said roster, all made this meet far more accessible to a broader audience. Moments like Cayco’s staredown, Jesus’s monstrous squat and total, Amanda Lawrence’s monstrous deadlift, and Evie Corrigan’s upset, circulated the sports zeitgeist, broadening powerlifting’s exposure to all-new audiences.
Understandably, after having to watch such an extraordinary meet from the sidelines, many of USA Powerlifting’s (USAPL) top lifters began experiencing FOMO. This year’s exciting IPF World Championships just added salt to the wound. A few of those same lifters, like Russel Orhii and Ashton Rouska, have either been rumored to or have explicitly expressed interest in moving over to Powerlifting America (AMP) (the IPF’s American member federation), both so they can get on an even playing field with some of these monster competitors across the globe, and so they can try their hand at securing a spot in what is now arguably powerlifting’s biggest meet. Additionally, the USAPL’s recent foibles around scheduling and sign-ups for the 2023 USAPL Raw Nationals have probably also left a bitter taste in some competitors’ mouths.
One might be led to imagine that this impending exodus of the very highest echelon of USAPL lifters will mark the beginning of its end. For obvious reasons, I don’t think it’s so clear cut; even without those lifters, USAPL will still sustain a healthy roster of lifters who will eventually come to fill the shoes of those who leave.
IPF Article 14 Throws a Wrench In All That
Edit: After publishing, I felt that I should clarify something about Article 14 that I left poorly explained. The rules highlighted below are only applicable if a lifter is a member in the IPF or one of its member federations. So, realistically in the US, it only applies to some lifters at a very high level, like Russell Orhii. However, the point still stands that lifters will not be able to crossover once they become members of AMP.
One major snare in this whole equation is Article 14 of the IPF Constitution. Therein lies the following:
Any athlete, coach, referee or official who competes or participates in an International Powerlifting or Bench Press event not organised, sanctioned, or approved by the IPF shall not be permitted to take part in any IPF international, regional or national event for a period of 12 months from the date of that non-approved event.
Any athlete, coach, referee or official that participates in any competition or Event which is organized by a Sporting Body, Federation or Organisation that has not received recognition from the World Anti-Doping Agency and is thus non-compliant with the Code and International Standards shall be automatically rendered ineligible and shall not be permitted to take part in an authorized National or International Powerlifting or Bench Press Event for a period of 12 months from the date of the last non-compliant Event. Should the athlete, coach, referee or official participate in an unauthorized Powerlifting or Bench Press Event prior to the lapse of the 12 months, he/she may be sanctioned with a period of ineligibility of an additional 12 months from the date of the non-compliant Event. In the case of a second infringement for such participation, the period of ineligibility may be a maximum of 24 months. The decision to extend the period of ineligibility will be at the sole discretion of the Anti-Doping Commission.
In other words, athletes and even coaches participating in USAPL events this year may not be able to compete for up to 2 years in an IPF event afterward. I understand that time horizons are generally relatively distant in powerlifting, but 2 years without a single competition is still a long time. I also believe that it makes no sense that additional testing, regardless of its adherence to WADA standards, should invalidate a lifter from receiving subsequent testing and/or the ability to participate, but my opinion is beside the point. Most lifters, even those at the very top, will not have the patience to go one to two whole years without competition; as such, this fact alone will discourage them from moving over. And this will continue to be the case unless and until this article is amended or removed.
The IPF’s Prize Pools Only Cater to the Very Top
When the USAPL created its Pro Series, it did so under the pretense that high-level lifters will have many opportunities to be invited to meets where they could potentially earn prize money. In many ways, that promise has not been realized. Pro Series meets have been paltry in their number, and the total yearly prize pool is less than the prize pool at Sheffield alone. However, that’s the thing: the Sheffield, as far as I understand it, is the only IPF meet, at least for American lifters, that awards prize money, and its roster is incredibly slight; only effectively the top 24 lifters in the IPF (as determined by their performance at Worlds) were invited this year.
On the other hand, there are several avenues by which USAPL lifters can become Pro Series lifters, including placing top 3 at Nationals or winning best lifter at multiple Pro Qualifier meets. Yeah, the prize pool won’t be nearly as substantial as what could be won at the Sheffield, but that is bound to change as USAPL’s dues-paying memberships and sponsors grow. The distribution of prize money is also simply more equitable. “Tier 2” lifters capable of upsets could potentially amass some decent winnings at these Pro Series meets, whereas the chance of that happening at the Sheffield for any lifter shy of the top 0.01% is slim to none.
There Aren’t That Many Powerlifting America Meets Available
Increased access to meets is an obvious prerequisite for federations to expand their reach. USAPL is already somewhat notorious in the community for not having enough meets to satisfy member demands. In highly populated areas, meets can often fill up in a matter of hours or even minutes. But seeing as Powerlifting America (AMP) is relatively infantile, it's even worse on that side of the powerlifting world. For instance, this year alone, AMP only held 37 meets nationwide, as compared to 269 under USAPL, and it’s only July. Presumably, this discrepancy will shrink with time, but it certainly doesn’t appear to be on pace to do so any time soon. Thus, this factor will continue to impact the rate at which people are willing to migrate to AMP.
Some People Just Like USAPL Better
USAPL and IPF have developed several technical and presentational differences since their schism, and many would prefer the alternatives put forth by USAPL. Most IPF/AMP meets have a very clinical atmosphere not beholden to great spectating or exciting competition, with pretty much the sole exception being the Sheffield. Yes, the content of the meet and the performance of the lifters is obviously paramount. However, it certainly doesn’t hurt to spice things up and put on a more entertaining exhibition, especially in a sport that is still growing into the mainstream.
Additionally, several other technical differences might compel some lifters toward the USAPL. Some notable examples include:
USAPL follows the classic weight class system adopted by most other non-IPF federations in the world, as opposed to the IPF’s arguably oversimplified weight classes.
USAPL has eliminated the need for head contact with the bench during the bench press.
USAPL likely performs more drug tests per capita.
The controversial bench depth rule implemented in the IPF does not impact USAPL.
“Second-Tier” Lifters Will Rise to the Occasion
Powerlifting’s elite class is a constantly rotating cast of characters. New lifters are always rising to become the new cream of the crop. Just because a fraction of a percentage of the USAPL’s top lifters may venture out to pursue Sheffield gold, that doesn’t mean that everyone else will follow. And as quickly as they left, new lifters will rise to the occasion and fill the shoes of their forebears, coming near or matching the competitiveness of those they replace. As such, their competitiveness will continue to draw those of their ilk. USAPL currently has the most competitive roster of lifters in America, and even on the world stage, when comparing the very top level, its top lifters in aggregate are not that far behind the best in the IPF (or, in some cases, are even stronger).
There is nothing for USAPL administrators or lifters to fundamentally be concerned about. It is unfortunate that so many complicating factors make it impossible for lifters to cross over. In a perfect world, lifters could potentially compete in both federations with little practical issue, but unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect world, and the IPF would rather not accommodate this.
If you hope to see a change in this dictate, I would suggest you make your voice heard to the IPF. You can contact them via the button I provided. Otherwise, I would suggest you elect to compete in the federation most agreeable to your aspirations, your needs and wants, your values, and a competitve roster to facilitate all of that. For most tested athletes in the States, I would imagine that the larger roster, the greater potential for prize money, more frequent testing, more meet availability, the ability to cross over into most other federations, and a better track record of receptiveness to community feedback probably makes that decision lean heavily in favor of USAPL, regardless of an elite handful of lifters flocking elsewhere. Hopefully, AMP can serve as a vehicle to affect and ameliorate longstanding misgivings within the community towards the IPF if they hope to attract more than a few A-list lifters away from their competition.