The Australian Powerlifting Union or APU, is the Australian national International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) affiliate for the sport of Powerlifting. Formed in 2018 after Powerlifting Australia was removed from the IPF after Robert Wilks (president of Powerlifting Australia) was not re-elected to the IPF Executive Committee, the APU has hosted local-, state-, national- and international-level competitions.
History
The APU was established on 08 January 2018 by Sean Muir, David Cheung, Cameron Whittington and Scott Peisley.
The APU was granted provisional status by the IPF in January 2018, before being accepted as a full member at the 2019 IPF General Assembly.
First Competition
The first competition hosted by the APU was the 2018 Bristow Open, named after Maxwell Bristow, a multiple World Record holder and currently the APU Director of Diversity and Inclusion.
First National Competition
The first national championship hosted by the APU was the inaugural National Equipped Powerlifting and Bench Press championship, held on 15 July 2018 in Penrith, NSW. Thirty lifters from across Australia participated.
First International Competition
As of 2023, the Australian Powerlifting Union has hosted two international competitions, the first being the 2018 Oceania Regional Powerlifting Federation (ORPF) championships, held in Queensland from 24 to 25 November 2018, with 83 entries from Oceania countries including Australia, New Zealand, Nauru and Papua New Guinea (and others).
Inclusion
The Australian Powerlifting Union provides opportunities for adaptive, disabled and Special Olympics athletes to participate. A separate Special Olympics category is provided, as well as a 'choice' division allowing athletes to complete some or all of the Squat, Bench Press or Deadlift. It is also possible for adaptive and special olympics athletes to compete alongside open category lifters, such as when the APU sent an athlete with Down Syndrome to the World Master's Championships in 2022, where he received Bronze medals for Squat, Bench Press, Deadlift and Total.
APU Structure
Committees
The APU is headed up by a board of directors and a number of executive and non-executive committees. The APU has a presence in every state and territory except the Northern Territory. Excluding vacancies, each state and territory has the opportunity to be represented on these committees, who work independently of the board of directors for day-to-day management of the APU.
Legal Status
Australian Powerlifting Union Ltd. is Limited by guarantee and registered with ASIC.
Recognition
International. The APU has been recognised as a full member by the IPF since 2019. The IPF itself is a member of the International Olympic Committee recognised Global Association of International Sports Federations, now known as SportAccord.
National. The APU is not fully recognised by the Australian Sports Commission but note that it is one of their goals in their 2022 AGM Minutes.
Sport Integrity
Anti-Doping
The Australian Powerlifting Union is a drug-tested federation and does not condone or allow the use of performance enhancing drugs. The APU has adopted Sport Integrity Australia's national anti-doping policy, and the International Powerlifting Federation is a signatory to the World Anti Doping Agency code.
Sport Integrity Australia and the Australian Powerlifting Union conduct In-Competition Testing (ICT) and Out-of-Competition Testing (OCT) in accordance with the national anti-doping policy.
All sanctions are published by Sport Integrity Australia.
Other Sport Integrity Policies
As well as an anti-doping policy, the Australian Powerlifting Union has policies to manage the following Sport Integrity Australia areas: Member protection - including child protection, social media, codes of behaviour and complaints Competition manipulation and sports gambling Privacy Referee Code of Conduct Coaching
Competition Rules and Qualifying
The APU follows the powerlifting rules of competition as prescribed by the IPF. Some leeway is granted for first time lifters, Special Olympics or adaptive athletes lifting under Choice events.
Qualifying
APU lifters must compete at local, state and national level in order to qualify for international championships, ensuring they meet the minimum qualifying total for the next level of competition at each stage.