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March in Texas: a high school gym in the middle of regional season, singlets in school colors, a team banging on the bleachers for a junior’s last deadlift. May in Corpus Christi: hundreds of lifters from teenagers to grandparents at Powerlifting America’s Age Division Nationals. August 2025 in Chengdu, China: the world’s best Classic and Equipped lifters at The World Games. Powerlifting is one sport with several powerlifting federations, each with its own rules, records, drug-testing policy and path to the top. Here’s who’s who, and how to pick the right one for you.
Why powerlifting has more than one federation
Unlike Olympic sports, which have one governing body per country, powerlifting grew up with several organizations that split over drug testing, equipment and international politics. They all contest the squat, bench press and deadlift, but your records, rankings and national qualifying totals stay with the federation you lift in. The big ones in the US:
| Federation | Drug testing | International link | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powerlifting America | Tested (USADA) | IPF (US member since 2021) | Route to IPF Worlds and The World Games; IPF Approved List gear |
| USA Powerlifting (USAPL) | Tested (WADA list) | IDFPA, from 2026 | Youth divisions from age 8; many national meets; approved list only for suits and shirts |
| USPA | Tested and untested meets, separate records | IPL | Raw, Classic Raw, Single Ply and Multi Ply divisions; minimum age 13 |
Other federations exist too, each with its own rules and testing policy; if you find a meet near you run by one, read its rulebook before you sign up.
IPF: the international federation
The International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) writes the Technical Rulebook most of the world lifts under (the current edition took effect March 1, 2026) and keeps the Approved List of Apparel and Equipment, which covers singlets, belts, sleeves, wraps, suits and shirts at every level from local meets to Worlds. Every year it holds:
- Classic and Equipped World Open Championships
- Classic and Equipped World Sub-Junior and Junior Championships
- Classic and Equipped World Masters Championships
- Classic and Equipped World Bench Press Championships, plus a University World Cup
Medals go for the total in each weight class and for the best squat, bench and deadlift, and a “best lifter” award is decided by the IPF’s bodyweight formula. IPF lifters compete under the IPF Anti-Doping Rules.
The World Games
Powerlifting isn’t an Olympic sport, so its biggest multi-sport stage is The World Games, held every four years for sports outside the Olympic program. The IPF has been a member of the International World Games Association since 1980. At Chengdu 2025 (August 7–17), Classic powerlifting appeared for the first time alongside Equipped: 128 lifters, 64 in each, with medal events doubling from 8 to 16. Lifters qualified through the 2024 IPF Classic and Equipped World Open Championships.
Powerlifting America
Powerlifting America has been the IPF’s US member since 2021, so it’s the route to IPF World Championships and The World Games for American lifters. It sanctions local meets and runs national championships for Open, Age Division (in 2026, May 19–24 in Corpus Christi, Texas), High School (in 2026, April 16–19 in Omaha, Nebraska) and Collegiate lifters. Rules and gear follow the IPF: your singlet, belt, knee sleeves and wraps must be on the IPF Approved List. Every registered lifter can be drug-tested by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), and national meets require a qualifying total from a Powerlifting America, IPF or IPF-affiliate meet.
USA Powerlifting (USAPL)
USA Powerlifting was the IPF’s US member for years until the IPF expelled it in November 2021. It now runs independently with its own rulebook, and since January 1, 2026 its lifters’ international competition is governed by the International Drug Free Powerlifting Association (IDFPA). USAPL is drug-tested: competition is limited to members who haven’t used strength-enhancing drugs or hormones for 36 months before a meet, it follows the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of banned substances, and every member can be tested (for youth members, testing starts at 14).
USAPL sanctions a long list of national championships: High School, Collegiate, Youth, Raw, Equipped, Bench, Masters, Military/Police/Firefighter, and EmpowerID Nationals for Special Olympians. In 2026, High School Nationals were March 26–29 in Killeen, Texas (junior high, junior varsity and varsity divisions) and Collegiate Nationals were April 9–12 in Kenner, Louisiana. It has youth divisions from age 8, uses DOTS to rank lifters across weight classes, and only requires listed brands for supportive suits and bench shirts; belts, sleeves and wraps just have to meet the size rules.
USPA and the IPL
The United States Powerlifting Association (USPA) runs meets across the country and is linked to the International Powerlifting League (IPL). It holds both drug-tested and untested competitions, with separate results, records, awards and best lifters; tested meets carry “Tested” in their name, and at least 10% of lifters each day are tested, including top performers by DOTS score plus random picks. It also offers more equipment divisions than most: Raw, Classic Raw (knee wraps allowed), Single Ply and Multi Ply. Lifters must be at least 13 to compete; younger kids may lift only as guests, with a parent’s waiver.
Tested or untested?
It’s the first decision to make, because it decides which federations and divisions are open to you. Tested federations and divisions follow anti-doping rules: you can be tested in competition and, in some federations, out of competition, and a positive test can mean a ban. That includes contaminated supplements, which is why tested lifters stick to products third-party certified for sport. Untested divisions don’t test, but we don’t cover or recommend performance-enhancing drugs: they’re banned in tested sport and carry real health risks. If you take a prescription medicine, ask your federation about a Therapeutic Use Exemption before you compete.
High school and college
Texas has its own school-based powerlifting: the Texas High School Powerlifting Association (THSPA) for boys and the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association (THSWPA) for girls run regional meets and state championships every March, and lifters qualify for state by placing first or second at regionals or by hitting a qualifying total. In other states, high schoolers lift at federation meets and nationals: USAPL’s High School Nationals (lifters can’t turn 19 before September 1 of the school year) and Powerlifting America’s.
Powerlifting isn’t an NCAA championship sport or on the NCAA’s emerging sports list. Colleges field club teams, and a few run varsity programs (Concordia University in Nebraska, for example). College lifters meet at USAPL Collegiate Nationals and Powerlifting America Collegiate Nationals, and the IPF holds a University World Cup.
Paralympic powerlifting
Para powerlifting is governed by World Para Powerlifting under the International Paralympic Committee. It made its Paralympic debut in 1984 with 16 men from six countries, and women first competed at Sydney 2000. The only lift is the bench press, for athletes with one of eight eligible physical impairments. In the US, the pathway runs through US Para Powerlifting. In IPF bench press championships, lifters with disabilities compete under the same rules as everyone else.
Masters: lifting for life
In the IPF, Masters 1 is 40–49 and Masters 4 is 70 and over, with Classic and Equipped World Masters Championships every year. USAPL goes all the way to Master 7 (100 and over) and runs a Masters Nationals, and the USPA has a Submaster division (35–39) and Masters in five-year steps up to 85 and over. Masters divisions mean you compete against people your own age, and many lifters start in their 40s, 50s or later.
How to choose a federation
- Tested or not? Decide first; it rules federations and divisions in or out.
- Want the international path? Powerlifting America leads to IPF World Championships and The World Games.
- Look at the calendar. The best federation for a first meet is often the one with a well-run meet an hour from home.
- Check the gear rules before you buy. IPF and Powerlifting America need Approved List brands; see our powerlifting rules page.
- Ask at your gym. Coaches and teammates know which local meets run on time and treat first-timers well.
Supplements and gear for tested lifters
If you lift tested, what goes in your shaker matters as much as what goes on the bar. Third-party certification for sport lowers the risk of a contaminated product. Thorne Creatine (about $44 for 90 servings of 5 g creatine monohydrate) is NSF Certified for Sport; our best creatine guide compares more. Talk to a doctor or dietitian before you start any supplement, and see our powerlifting nutrition and supplements page. For the meet bag, the Gymreapers 18-inch wrist wraps (about $20; Gymreapers wraps are on the IPF Approved List) and a block of Cannon Sports chalk (about $18 for eight 2 oz blocks) are legal in every federation above.
Thorne Creatine
- 5 g creatine monohydrate
- 90 servings
- About $44
Gymreapers 18" Wrist Wraps
- 18 x 3 in
- Reinforced thumb loop
- IPF Approved List brand
Back to the powerlifting hub, or see the youth and meet day pages. Olympic weightlifting has a single ladder from USA Weightlifting to the Olympics; see our weightlifting section.
Powerlifting federations questions
What’s the difference between USAPL and Powerlifting America?
Powerlifting America is the IPF’s US member and the route to IPF World Championships. USA Powerlifting was the IPF member until it was expelled in 2021; it now runs independently, with international competition through the IDFPA from 2026. Both are drug-tested. Powerlifting America requires IPF Approved List gear; USAPL only requires listed brands for supportive suits and shirts.
Is powerlifting in the Olympics?
No. Its biggest multi-sport event is The World Games, where Classic powerlifting joined Equipped in 2025. Para powerlifting, the bench press for athletes with eligible physical impairments, has been on the Paralympic program since 1984.
What does “untested” mean in powerlifting?
Untested meets and divisions don’t drug-test lifters, and they keep separate records from tested ones. The USPA, for example, runs both, with “Tested” in the name of tested meets. Choosing tested competition keeps you on a level field with other drug-free lifters.
Can you powerlift in college?
Yes. It isn’t an NCAA sport, but many colleges have club teams and a few have varsity programs. USA Powerlifting and Powerlifting America both run Collegiate Nationals, and the IPF holds a University World Cup.
Can my records move with me if I switch federations?
No. Records, rankings and qualifying totals belong to the federation where you set them (and tested and untested records are kept apart). Your strength comes with you, though; many lifters compete in more than one federation over the years.