President's Message


June 2, 2005

This issue of Powerlines comes at almost mid-year. This is the time to assess how far we have come and what remains to be done in this year. At nearly the midpoint of our competition schedule, we have some positive indicators of our success to report.

In terms of membership, we are proceeding at about the same pace as last year. Participation is up at our national contests, and sanctions at the local level are also running ahead. We have continued development of infrastructure at the local level in some relatively unserved areas, which include Tennessee, appointment of a new State Chair in Illinois, and continuing development of our meet schedule in Florida.

This year, we have two new National meet promoters: Mr. Harold Gaines, who ran the very successful Women's National (160 competitors), and Mr. Lance Slaughter who just wrapped up the Master's Nationals in Palm Springs. Both of these gentlemen exemplify what we hope for in meet promoters: sensitivity to the athletes, openness to new ideas, and dedication to providing the best possible competitions for our lifters.

We are also in the third year of development of North American Regional Powerlifting. The third annual North American Regional Championships is being held the third weekend this month in Miami, Florida. Mr. Robert Keller has been largely responsible for development of the concept of regional powerlifting, contacting representatives of the nations in this region, providing support as they organize, and providing a venue for them to compete.

This summer, the 8th World Games will be held in Duisberg, Germany. Eleven athletes from the U.S. will participate, several in their second appearance in the Games. This year marks the first time that the Games will be officially under the banner of the International Olympic Committee. Over the four years since the previous Games, the linkage has been strengthened between the International World Games Association and the IOC. The Games is now designated as one of the four legs of the Olympic program. This Games is also the first time when all participants from the USA will wear the same uniform with sponsor support for the athletes attire and strong identification as a single entity from the U.S. We will have the opportunity to march in the Opening Ceremonies as a TEAM for the first time.

It has been said that with great privilege comes great responsibility. In the case of powerlifting, the opportunity to compete on the world's biggest stage carries with it a need for both dedication to the principles that make this level of organization possible and support for the entities that are under our international umbrella. In terms of our guiding principles, 2005 marks an increased level of scrutiny by the World Antidoping Agency for athletes and affiliates in terms of doping control. The tenets of the WADA Code extend to those athletes who support those suspended under the Code and to those who participate outside of the IPF umbrella. The consequences for lifting against a banned lifter will be increasingly enforced, and athletes who compete in other organizations while suspended will be subject to extensions of their period of ineligibility. For those of us in countries with multiple federations, this may change the way we look at crossing federation lines. Some will like it and some not, but it is clear that the framers of the WADA Code envision a sports environment where the penalties for doping will be severe and support for those who use, difficult. There will clearly be a period of adjustment in our thinking, but in the long run the sport will be stronger.

By now, current USAPL members should have received their second edition of our hardcopy newsletter. The response has been very positive from our membership to receiving organizational information. We plan two issues yet this year: the first to focus on our national and international meet schedule, and the second to highlight our local level competition. Those of you promoting events at the grassroots level, please be thinking about writing up your meets. If we receive a great deal of response, we will randomly pick two to four articles to put in. We will also continue our member spotlights in coming issues.

Here's looking at a strong finish to 2005.
Best regards,
Larry


L.J. Maile, Ph.D.
President