I.P.F. TECHNICAL RULES
Part 5.
WEIGHING IN
1. Weighing in of the competitors must take place no earlier than two hours
before the start of the competition for a particular category/categories.
All lifters in the category/categories must attend the weigh in, which will
be carried out in the presence of three appointed referees for that
category/categories. (Note that if necessary, weight categories may be combined
in a single lifting session)
2. The weigh in period will last one and a half hours.
3. The weigh in for each competitor will be carried out in a locked room
with only the competitor, his coach or manager and the three referees present.
The lifter's agreed body weight must not be made public until all the lifters
competing in the particular category have been weighed in.
4. Lifters may be weighed nude or in underwear which complies with the
specifications set out in the appropriate section of the rule book and which
does not effectively change the lifter's weight. If a question exists regarding
weight of undergarments, a re-weigh in the nude may be requested. In competitions
in which women are competitors, the weigh in procedure may be altered to
ensure that lifters are weighed by officials of their own sex. Additional
female officials may be appointed for this purpose.
5. If not previously carried out, the inspection of costume and personal
equipment will take place during the weigh in period. However, the lifters
must be weighed in the priority of the previously determined order of lifting.
The equipment will only be checked after all lifters have made their first
visit to the scales. The technical officers or the appointed referees will
be responsible for inspecting, measuring and recording on the inspection
form, details of all items listed under "Costume and Personal Equipment".
The items shall be approved and marked accordingly. The referee responsible
for this inspection will also be responsible for ensuring that the details
recorded correspond with the items worn and used by the lifter on the
platform.
6. Lots will be drawn to establish the order of the weigh in. In competitions
with large numbers of lifters in each category, the drawing of lots and referees'
inspection of costume and personal equipment, may commence one hour before
the start of the weigh in. The lots drawn also establish the order of lifting
throughout the competition when lifters require the same weights for their
attempts.
7. Each lifter may only be weighed once. Only those whose body weight is
heavier or lighter than the category limits of the category entered are allowed
to return to the scales. They must return to the scales and make weight within
the limits of the hour and a half allowed for the weigh in, otherwise they
will be eliminated from the competition for that body weight category. A
lifter can only be re-weighed after all lifters in the same body weight category
have been called to the scales. Lifters trying to make weight may bare-weighed
as often as time and orderly progression by lots allows.
A lifter may only be weighed outside the time limit of one and a half hours
if he presents himself within the time limit, but due to the number of lifters
trying to make weight, he is denied the opportunity of mounting the scales.
He may then be allowed one re-weigh at the discretion of the referees.
8. A lifter shall be nominated in his normal body weight category. However,
each lifter will have the option of changing categories up or down from that
in which he was originally nominated on the final team nomination form. If
the lifter wishes to exercise this option, he must present himself to the
Chief Referee at the weigh in room ten minutes before the commencement of
the weigh in for his final choice of body weight category.If he wishes to
move up, the lifter must also report to the chief referee of his originally
nominated lower category, ten minutes before the commencement of the weigh
in for that category in order to be excused.
If a lifter changes categories and the lot draw has already been carried
out, then the lifter shall be placed at the top of the draw.
If the lifter's new body weight category is to be split into alternating
groups because of the number of competitors, then unless he can produce
irrefutable evidence of a total made in that new category during the preceding
twelve months at a national or international level, he will automatically
be placed in the first group to lift.
Example (a) - A lifter nominated at 90 kg wishes to lift at 82.5 kg. He must
present himself to the Chief Referee of the 82.5 kg category ten minutes
before the commencement of the weigh in for that category.
Example (b) - A lifter nominated at 90 kg wishes to lift at 100 kg. He must
report to the Chief Referee of the 90 kg category before the weigh in commences
and state that he wishes to move up into the 100 kg category and therefore
does not wish to weigh in. He must then also present himself to the Chief
Referee of the 100 kg category ten minutes before the commencement of the
weigh in for that category.
It is the responsibility of the lifter to know the body weight category for
which he was originally nominated. A claim that an error had been made on
the final nomination form will not be accepted.
9. At tournaments, galas, festivals or friendly internationals, the weigh
in may, by mutual consent, take place earlier than two hours before the start
of the competition. However, if a lifter declares his/her intention to attempt
a world record, he/she must reweigh two hours before the start of the
competition.
10. If two lifters register the same body weight at the weigh in and eventually
achieve the same total at the end of the competition, they will be re-weighed
and the lighter person will take precedence over the heavier person. However,
if they still weigh the same after re-weighing, they will then share the
placing, and each receive an award. In such circumstances should two lifters
be in first place, then the next lifter shall be placed third and so forth.
11. Lifters should, if required, check squat and bench press rack heights
and foot blocks prior to the start of the competition.