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IFBB PROVISIONAL RECOGNITION LAPSES

In January 1998, the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB) was granted Provisional Recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), under Rule 29 of the Olympic Charter. Although scheduled to lapse in January 2000, the IOC allowed the recognition to remain in effect until September 2001.

During the period of recognition, the IFBB significantly improved its Doping Control Policy & Anti-Doping Program, which is modeled after the Olympic Movement Anti- Doping Code.

IFBB Special Advisor, Prof. Dr. Eduardo H. DeRose, President of the International Federation of Sport Medicine and a respected member of the IOC Medical Commission, closely supervises the IFBB drug program. States Prof. Dr. DeRose, "My full support of the program can only exist if, in all aspects, it follows the Olympic Movement Anti- Doping Code and, as it stands right now, there is no doubt that this is the case."

Concerning the program's effectiveness, Prof. Dr. De Rose further states, "Reviewing the statistics of the last four years, one sees very clearly that the incidence of positive cases is being drastically reduced. Few international federations, including many of the Olympic federations, have as comprehensive a program as that of the IFBB."

IFBB Founder and President Ben Weider stated, "We are one of the only international federations in the world that not only sanctions its athletes but also suspends its national federations for failing to implement effective doping control programs."

However, despite IFBB progress in combating doping, there is still skepticism. With the recent election of a new IOC Executive Committee, the IFBB is once again faced with the task of convincing the IOC that the perception of doping in our sport is not the same as reality. President Weider commented, "The evidence clearly demonstrates that the IFBB has been successful in its efforts to significantly reduce, on a worldwide basis, the number of positives in our sport. Indeed, our achievements in this regard, instead of being viewed with skepticism, should be commended."

Given the evidence, the IFBB is left to conclude that the recent decision to allow its recognition to lapse is wholly subjective in nature and is therefore neither objective nor justified.

With the new IOC administration in place, the IFBB will once again renew its determined efforts to obtain full Olympic recognition and to take its rightful place within the Olympic Movement. more....articles by Rob Wilkins

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Rob Wilkins, originally from Linden, New Jersey, is a Technical Sergeant in the US Air Force stationed at AFTAC, Patrick Air Force Base, Cocoa Beach, Florida. Wilkins is also a Special Assistant to the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB) and a recipient of the IFBB Gold Medal (Oct ’00). To contact Wilkins e-mail him at waaszup@yahoo.com.