The International Powerlifting Federation was founded in 1972 and has been a leading force in the world of strength sports ever since.
Although there have been many changes to the makeup of the sport over the years, at its heart it remains the same, with athletes battling against gravity to lift as much weight as is humanly possible.
The IPF demands the highest standards from its athletes, and all are subject to the strictest anti-doping rules. We are fully compliant with the requirements of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and all our athletes undergo anti-doping education courses, as well as testing both in and out of competition.
Powerlifting is a sport for everyone and we welcome athletes as young as 14. Some powerlifters are still competing well into their 80s! Strength and muscle building are increasingly recognised as crucial to health, especially as we get older, and we host both juniors and masters (aged over 40) competitions at the highest level all over the world. We are proud to offer equal recognition and exposure to male and female athletes as well as hosting Special Olympics competitions within our World Championships.
The IPF works with many global partners to further the sport, including Sport Accord, the International Federation for Sports Officials (IFSO), the Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport (AIMS), United Through Sports, The Fair Play Foundation and UNAOC, amongst others.
We are founder members of The World Games Association and powerlifting has been on the timetable for every instance of The World Games so far, going back to its inception in 1981. For the first time in 2025, we have expanded our World Games programme to include the classic category alongside equipped, thereby extending the participation possibilities for our athletes.
Powerlifting is a fast growing sport and one of the biggest areas of growth we have seen is amongst student athletes. In 2024, for the first time, our student powerlifters competed under the FISU banner, bringing powerlifting to yet another global multi-sport agency.
With our broadcast partners, Eurosport and CBS Sports, we have brought powerlifting into the homes of millions of people across the world. Our livestreams are unmatched in quality and are often carried on the Olympics YouTube channel, offering our athletes unparalleled exposure on the world’s stage.
Join us in celebrating the achievements of some of the strongest people in the world as we continue to grow in both size and stature in the global sporting community.
Sigurjón Pétursson
Acting IPF President
