The IFBB is a legal entity under the laws of the Government of Canada, founded in 1946 and federally incorporated as a not-for-profit organization.

The IFBB controls the sport of bodybuilding and fitness and counts among its sport disciplines men's, women's, juniors, masters and mixed-pairs bodybuilding; women's fitness and body fitness; men's fitness, and classic bodybuilding.

The General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) recognizes the IFBB as the only International Sport Governing Body (ISGB) for the sport of bodybuilding.

The IFBB is a democratic federation, currently comprised of 176 National Federations. Its Executive Council serves as volunteers and stands for election/re-election every four years. It meets annually at its International Congress to discuss sport-related issues and policies.

The IFBB has convened an International Congress each year since 1970. These Congresses are comprised of the members of the Executive Council and representatives from the various National Federations and are held in conjunction with the Men's World Bodybuilding Championships.

The IFBB International President and Founder is Ben Weider, C.M., C.Q., SBStJ, Ph.D., recipient of the Order of Canada, Order of Quebec, Legion of Honor, and Nobel Peace Prize nominee. Mr. Weider is also a world-renowned authority on Napoleon and is the International President and Founder of the International Napoleonic Society.

The IFBB is a member of the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF); is affiliated with the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (UNESCO) and the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee; is a founding member of the International World Games Associations (IWGA); and is recognized by the International Sports Press Association (AIPS).

The IFBB is recognized by over 90 National Olympic Committees (NOCs).

The IFBB regularly participates in the following IOC recognized Regional Games: the Pan American Games, the Southeast Asian Games, the Asian Games, the South American Games, the Central American & Caribbean Games, the Arab Games, the South Pacific Games, the African Games, and the World Games.

The IFBB is recognized by the Olympic Council of Asia and the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa.

The IFBB was provisionally recognized by the International Olympic Committee on January 31, 1998, pursuant to Rule 29 of the Olympic Charter - the only bodybuilding ISGB to have achieved this accomplishment.

The IFBB follows the Olympic Movement Anti-Doping Code (OMADC) and the World Anti-Doping Agency Code (WADA Code).

The IFBB implements its own Anti-Doping Program, modeled after the WADA Code. This Program is followed by all 176 National Federations.

The IFBB Anti-Doping Program was assessed in 2002 by Independent WADA Observers and received an "A" grade.

The IFBB uses the WADA List of Prohibited Substances and Methods.

The IFBB uses the WADA Doping Control Procedures , which includes the use of WADA-approved Doping Control kits.

The IFBB uses only laboratories from the List of WADA Accredited Laboratories.

The IFBB penalties for a Doping Offence are: a two-year suspension for a first-offence and a lifetime suspension for a second-offence. National Federations that do not comply with the IFBB Anti-Doping Program may also be reprimanded, fined, suspended or expelled.

The IFBB established a Medical Commission in 1970, in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. This Commission is currently charged with the implementation, control and supervision of the IFBB Anti-Doping Program worldwide. Special Advisors to the Commission have been the late Prof. Dr. Manfred Donike (Germany - IOC Medical Commission) and currently, Prof. Dr. Eduardo H. De Rose (Brazil - IOC Medical Commission).

The IFBB first conducted doping controls at the 1986 Men's World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships in Tokyo, Japan. In 1987, these controls were extended to include the Women's World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships, as well as the Juniors, Masters & Mixed-Pairs World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships. Today, all IFBB international amateur events, at the Area, Continental, and World levels, in both bodybuilding and fitness, are drug tested.

The IFBB accepts the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) as the final authority in any appeal process.

The IFBB fully cooperates with over 90 National Olympic Committees and several Anti-Doping Agencies e.g. Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) and the Australian Sports Drug Agency (ASDA).

The IFBB fully cooperates with the Doping Control programs of other like-minded sports organizations e.g. International World Games Association (IWGA) and Pan American Sports Organization (PASO).

The IFBB conducts extensive research and development in the field of natural nutritional supplementation, optimum training techniques, and a healthy, fit lifestyle.

The IFBB educates its membership and other interested parties by regularly publishing and disseminating material worldwide on the natural, healthy and safe alternatives to doping, in magazines and on its Official Website (IFBB.com).

The IFBB makes public its doping positives, both in magazines and on its Official Website (IFBB.com).

The IFBB believes in the Olympic Movement; its ideals and aims; and its struggle against doping in sport. Like the IOC, the IFBB actively opposes doping for moral, ethical and health reasons, and for reasons of fairplay in sport competition.