Standing left to right: Rick Blair, Weider USA, Toshihiko Miyakawa, Japanese Interpreter, Prof. Dr. Freidhelm Beuker, Secretary Medical Commission, Hitoshi Tamari, President Japanese Bodybuilding Federation, Lou Zhou Yu, Patron, Pamela Kagan, Executive Director, Dr. Bob Goldman, Chairman Medical Commission, Javier Pollock, Vice President Caribbean, Albert Busek, Vice President Europe, Dr. Eng. Adel Fahim El Sayed, Vice President Africa
Seated left to right: Lisser Frost-Larsen, Chairwoman Women's Committee, Malih Alaywan, Vice President, Middle East, Ben Weider, C.M., C.Q., Ph.D., IFBB President, Rafael Santonja, Executive Assistant to the President, Paul Chua, Vice President Asia, Paul Graham, Vice President Oceania, Tony Blinn, Chairman Technical Committee

The Executive Council Annual Meeting was called to order by President Ben Weider, C.M., C.Q., Ph.D., at 4:00 PM. President Weider, in his opening remarks, welcomed all members to the 54th IFBB Men's World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships and International Congress.

The minutes of the previous year's Executive Council Annual Meeting and International Congress were adopted.

At the Head Table: Pamela Kagan, Ben Weider, Rafael Santonja, and Paul Chua

President Weider, referring to the President's Report, highlighted the success of the recent European Men's Championships held in Lausanne, Switzerland. IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch attended the Championships and stayed for almost two hours. President Samaranch asked many questions about the IFBB and the sport of bodybuilding and fitness and stated that the IFBB was a "well-organized and structured" federation. Mr. Gilbert Felli, IOC Sports Director, and Ms. Françoise Zweifel, IOC Olympic Museum Director, also attended the event, which saw participation from 35 countries.

Rafael Santonja, Executive Assistant to the President, strongly urged the Vice Presidents and National Federations to actively lobby the various National Olympic Committees for IFBB sport recognition in the Regional Games.

Albert Busek, Ben Weider, and Paul Chua

President Weider and Paul Chua, Vice President for Asia, emphasized that National Federations must remain strongly committed towards implementing effective Doping Control Programs, following IFBB and IOC guidelines, and towards ensuring that their athletes are competing drug-free.

President Weider invited each Vice President to present a brief report on the activities within their own areas. All agreed that bodybuilding and fitness continues to experience worldwide growth. Paul Chua presented the exciting news that bodybuilding will be a medal sport at the 2002 Asian Games in Pusan City, South Korea, with 42 countries from Asia expected to participate. Rafael Santonja reported that bodybuilding and fitness would also be medal sports at the 2002 Central American Games in Guatemala and at the 2002 South American Games in Cordoba, Argentina.

Javier Pollock IFBB Vice President Caribbean

Paul Graham IFBB Vice President Oceania

Dr. Eng. Adel Fahim El Sayed IFBB Vice President Africa

President Weider then invited the various Committee chairpersons to present a brief report on their activities. Dr. Bob Goldman, Chairman of the Medical Commission, and Prof. Dr. Friedhelm Beuker, Secretary of the Medical Commission, spoke about the need for continued attention to the struggle against doping. Tony Blinn, Chairman of the Technical Committee, advised the members on the success of IFBB.com, with a record 2.6 million hits in the month of October 2000. Lisser Frost-Larsen, Chairwoman of the Women's Committee, stated that fitness competitions were extremely successful worldwide and that the number of women bodybuilders was once again starting to increase.

Albert Busek, Vice President for Europe, presented a report on his recent attendance at the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) congress in Monaco. Albert strongly emphasized the importance of bodybuilding's participation in the various IOC-sanctioned Regional Games as well as the 2001 Akita World Games. Albert further stated that the criteria for athlete participation in these Games must focus on those countries who are conducting effective Doping Control Programs and who can ensure drug-free participation by their athletes. The Executive Council was unanimous in their approval of these new criteria.

Malih Alaywan IFBB Vice President Middle East

Lisser Frost-Larsen Chairwoman Women's Committee

Dr. Bob Goldman Chairman Medical Commission

President Weider invited Mr. Hitoshi Tamari, President of the Japanese Bodybuilding Federation and IFBB Technical Delegate for the 2001 Akita World Games, to present a brief report on current activities for these Games.

President Weider advised the members that Malih Alaywan was the new acting Vice President for the Middle East until the next elections in 2002. President Weider also advised the members that he had received an official letter from the Sports Authorities of Palestine confirming that Dr. Nazeeh Abdul Raheem (Dr. Abu Jaffar) was accepted as the president of the Palestine Bodybuilding Federation.

Friedhelm Beuker Secretary Medical Commission

Lou Zhuo Yu Patron

Rick Blair Weider USA

The following decisions were voted on and approved by the Executive Council:

1. That, effective immediately, the mandatory dress code for all delegates participating in a Parade of Nations shall be IFBB formal attire e.g. black dress shoes, grey dress pants, white shirt, IFBB tie, and blue blazer with IFBB crest.

2. That, prior to the end of the first quarter 2001, a questionnaire be forwarded to all National Federations with the intent of determining the extent of their Doping Control Programs.

3. That, commencing January 1, 2001, the number of fitness categories at World and Continental levels shall be increased from two to three. These are:
   • up to 160 cm
     
   • up to 167 cm
     
   • over 167 cm
     

4. That the increase in the number of fitness categories, and their height limitations, shall also apply to the World Junior Fitness Championships.

5. That, commencing January 1, 2001, at fitness competitions, the top six finalists only from Prejudging shall qualify for the Finals instead of the current top ten finalists.

6. That, commencing January 1, 2001, mixed-pairs competition shall be eliminated at the World level. Mixed-pairs competition may still be held at the Continental and National levels.

7. That all references to the term "Liaison Director" be removed from the IFBB Constitution.

8. That the "Medical and Doping Committee" be renamed to "Medical Commission".

The IFBB President presenting his viewpoint on one of the many issues raised at the meeting

The Executive Council discussed and rejected the proposition from Sweden "That the individual judge's marks be made public immediately after the event".

There being no further business, President Weider wished everyone a memorable stay in Malacca and adjourned the meeting at 6:30 PM.