Such actions included sanctions against the Russian Powerlifting Federation (RPF). As from mid 2007 the RPF was in the position that it was serving out an extended suspended sentence, running through to the end of 2008. The terms of that suspended sentence included the provision that even one international positive drug test would trigger a full suspension.

With that sentence hanging over the heads of the Russian Federation, some encouraging developments were observed by the IPF. A domestic out-of-competition testing program was reported, with mostly negative results, and with positives acted on by suspension. In Russia's return to IPF World Championships last October, no less than 16 Russian lifters were tested, with all results negative. The RPF has provided whereabout information for many of its international lifters and has co-operated with IPF out-of-competition testing in Russia.

However, a September 2007 IPF out-of-competition test on a Russian lifter has returned a positive result for a diuretic. A 2-year individual suspension has been imposed on that lifter.

The IPF Executive has considered all aspects of the recent situation with the RPF and has determined that the positive test result, at a time of suspended sentence for the RPF, must be met with a further federation suspension. However, the IPF has taken into account the other steps forward by the RPF during 2007, and it has tailored the federation penalty to reflect the circumstances of this case.

Accordingly, the RPF has been suspended from international and regional competition for the period 21st October 2007 to 30th August 2008 (any international or regional Russian results achieved after 21st October are thus invalid). Furthermore, the RPF will be placed on probation for the period 1st September 2008 to 30th June 2009, i.e. for the ten months after their suspension is completed. If the RPF incurs any international positive drug test results in that period of probation federation suspension will again be imposed. As well, the IPF will in 2008 and 2009 continue to conduct out-of-competition testing in Russia, as well as requiring the RPF to conduct its own national out-of-competition testing program.

The IPF continues to be constructive in using sanctioning, monitoring and direct testing as methods in assisting federations in solving any doping problems in their nation. However, the IPF reserves the right to employ extended suspension or even expulsion for nationional federations with recurring doping problems. Not only Russia, but also other national federations are now being examined by the IPF in terms of their doping records and IPF will continue to take all necessary measures to eradicate drugs in powerlifting.

From the IPF