The IPF was founded in 1972, and comprises member federations from more than one hundred countries with new ones being added yearly. The first president of the federation was Robert Christ, from theUnited States of America.
The current interim IPF president is Sigurjon Petursson, fromIceland, after Gaston Parage resigned on 11th of March 2025.[1] Parage was the longest serving IPF president, heading up the organisation for 13 years.[2]
The IPF is the largest powerlifting federation in the world.
IPF is adrug-tested powerlifting federation that restricts supportive equipment in both equipped and raw competitions to an approved list which is updated from time to time.[3] Typically in equipped competition the usage is limited to single-ply polyester shirts and suits with wrist and knee wraps while soft suits and neoprene knee sleeves are permitted in the classic powerlifting division (referred to as unequipped or raw competition).
The first world powerlifting championship was held in 1971 with rarely anyone from outside the U.S appeared. In 1972, the second world weightlifting championship event was held by theAmateur Athletic Union leading to the creation of the IPF.[4]
The IPF split from its long time affiliation with USAPL in 2021 and Powerlifting America became the new American affiliate.
