This website is best viewed using a screen resolution of 1024x768 or higher

*All photographs courtesy of Tony Blinn except where otherwise indicated

IFBB Executive Council Meeting
Malabar Room, Oberoi Hotel, Mumbai, India
November 6, 2003


Back row (left to right): Prof.ou Zhuo Yu (China), Prof. Dr. Friedhelm Beuker (Germany),
Lisser Frost-Larsen (Denmark), Dr. Eng. Adel Fahim El Sayed (Egypt),
Paul Graham (Australia), Tony Blinn (Canada)
Front Row (left to right): Mostafa Hefzi (Egypt), Pamela Kagan (Canada),
Rafael Santonja (Spain), Paul Chua (Singapore), Javier Pollock (US Virgin Islands),
Malih Alaywan (Lebanon)

I. Rafael Santonja, Executive Assistant to the President and Chair, officially opened the meeting at 3:10pm.

The Chair presented brief introductory remarks and welcomed the members of the Executive Council.

The Chair recognized the efforts of each member within their own individual area of concern and briefly touched on their major accomplishments during the past year.

II. The Minutes of the previous Executive Council meeting, held in Cairo, Egypt, were adopted.

III. The IFBB President's Report for 2003 was placed into the record.

IV. REPORT of the IFBB Executive Assistant to the President:
Rafael Santonja reminded the members to remain persistent in their efforts to promote a positive image of the sport within the Olympic Movement and to continue their efforts at ensuring the participation of bodybuilding within IOC recognized Regional Games.

Rafael reported record participation in Junior and Master competitions throughout 2002/2003, particularly at the World Women's Championships in Santa Susanna, Spain, which saw almost 200 competitors from over 40 countries.

V. The IFBB General Secretary's Report for 2003 was placed into the record.

VI. REPORTS of the IFBB Vice Presidents:
The Chair gave each Vice President the opportunity to present a brief report on the activities within their area of concern. In general, the sport continues to experience worldwide growth and development.

Paul Chua reported that Brigadier Abdulla Khalaf (Qatar) has replaced Mergalev Bulat (Kazahkstan) as president of the Asian BodyBuilding Federation (ABBF).

VII. REPORT of the IFBB Judges Committee:
Rafael Santonja reported continual improvements in judging worldwide due to increased numbers of seminars, such as the IFBB/EBFF International Judges, Coaches & Trainers Course, as well as the comprehensive monitoring of Judging Accuracy Scores at the Continental and World levels.

VIII. REPORT of the IFBB Technical Committee:
Tony Blinn presented a brief report on improvements at IFBB.com over the past year.

IX. REPORT of the IFBB Women's Committee:
Lisser Frost-Larsen presented a brief report showing that women's participation in sport has increased dramatically during the past year.

X. REPORT of the IFBB Medical Commission:
Prof. Dr. Friedhelm Beuker presented a brief report highlighting the IFBB's efforts towards anti-doping.

XI. WORLD ANTI-DOPING AGENCY (WADA) CODE:
The Chair, with the assistance of the Medical Commission and Technical Committee, presented a report on the WADA Code.

On behalf of the IFBB and President Weider, the Chair expressed his appreciation that WADA had included the IFBB as an active stakeholder in the drafting of the Code. Both the Medical Commission and Technical Committee had reviewed all draft versions of the Code and had submitted their concerns to WADA, who responded immediately.

To comply fully with the WADA Code, the Chairman of the Technical Committee advised that the current IFBB Anti-Doping Program required several amendments, particularly in the area of Result Management.

The following resolution was discussed, voted upon and adopted:

Be it resolved that the IFBB shall take steps to adopt the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code. Further, once the WADA Code is formally adopted, the IFBB shall take whatever measures are necessary to ensure that its anti-doping program is in full compliance with the Code.

XII. PROPOSITIONS:
Proposition #1: [IFBB Technical Committee & EBFF] ... ADOPTED
Be it resolved that, for Men's & Women's Bodybuilding, the two relaxed turns during Round One (Prejudging) shall be eliminated. That instead, the competitors shall be directed to perform four compulsory poses, in numerical order and in groups of not more than five competitors at a time. That the judges shall use this time to determine their own individual comparisons, which shall immediately follow. The four compulsory poses shall be as follows:

1. Front relaxed followed by Front Double Biceps
2. Side Chest
3. Back relaxed followed by Back Double Biceps
4. Abdominals & Thighs

Proposition #2: [IFBB Technical Committee] ... ADOPTED
Be it resolved that, for Women's Bodybuilding, the length of the free posing routine shall be reduced from 90 seconds to 60 seconds.

Proposition #3: [IFBB Technical Committee] ... ADOPTED
Be it resolved that, for Mixed-Pairs Bodybuilding, the length of the free posing routine shall be reduced from 120 seconds to 90 seconds.

Proposition #4: [IFBB Technical Committee] ... ADOPTED
Be it resolved that, for Women's Fitness, before the individual comparisons, the entire lineup of competitors shall be directed to perform the four quarter turns, in numerical order and in groups of not more than five competitors at a time. That the judges shall use this time to determine their own individual comparisons, which shall immediately follow.

Proposition #5: [IFBB] ... ADOPTED
Be it resolved that, for Women's Fitness, the use of props shall be prohibited.

*The definition of the term "prop" was tabled for further study.

No competitor shall be permitted to use any device that would leave material on the stage platform that would 1) present a safety hazard for other competitors, or 2) require that the stage platform be cleaned before further use.

Proposition #6: [IFBB Technical Committee] ... ADOPTED
Be it resolved that, for Women's Fitness, the length of the Prejudging routine shall be 60 seconds. That the length of the Finals routine shall be not more than 90 seconds.

Proposition #7: [IFBB Technical Committee & EBFF] ... TABLED
Be it resolved that Men's Fitness shall be officially adopted as an IFBB sport discipline, with competition at the World level.

*This proposition was tabled for further study at the National and Continental levels in order to ascertain the current and future viability of this potential sport discipline.

Proposition #8: [IFBB Technical Committee] ... ADOPTED
Be it resolved that the names of the top five finalists shall be made public after the Prejudging.

Proposition #9: [IFBB] ... REJECTED
Be it resolved that the current practice of providing photocopies of the Final Places Combined Score Sheets at the Farewell Banquet shall be discontinued. Instead, this information shall be published at IFBB.com within 48 hours of the event.

*It was determined that, for the purpose of ensuring proper photocopying, the IFBB shall provide Master copies of the Final Places Combined Score Sheets as follows:

1. Copy to the IFBB Vice President of the continent hosting the event.
2. Copy to the Organizing Committee.
3. Copy to the Primary Media Contact.

The results will continue to be published at IFBB.com within 48 hours of the event.

Proposition #10: [Poland] ... REJECTED
Be it resolved that the weight categories for Men's Bodybuilding shall be as follows:

1. Up to & incl 65kg (143 lbs)
2. Up to & incl 70kg (154 lbs)
3. Up to & incl 75kg (165 lbs)
4. Up to & incl 80kg (176 lbs)
5. Up to & incl 87.5kg (192.5 lbs)
6. Up to & incl 95kg (209 lbs)
7. Over 95kg (209 lbs)

*Note: Rejected at the World level only.

Proposition #11: [Czech Republic] ... ADOPTED
Be it resolved that, for Women's Body Fitness, there shall be three height categories as follows:

1. Up to & incl 158cm (5' 2")
2. Up to & incl 164cm (5' 4")
3. Over 164cm (5' 4")

Proposition #12: [IFBB Technical Committee] ... ADOPTED
Be it resolved that, for Women's Body Fitness, only the top five finalists from Prejudging shall advance to the Finals.

XIII. 2004 IFBB Men's World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships & IFBB International Congress:
Moscow, Russia, November 4-8, 2004

*Note: Paul Chua requested that the Executive Council place in writing its approval of Singapore as the host for the 2005 IFBB Men's World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships.

XIV. Allocation of Championships:
Pamela Kagan discussed the 2004 IFBB Amateur Calendar of Events.

XV. Other Business:
Dr. Eng. Adel Fahim El Sayed raised the issue of competitors, judges and officials participating in non-IFBB sanctioned events. The IFBB Constitution and Rules already cover this issue.

Tony Blinn raised the issue of the IFBB establishing a Relaxed Dress Code. Javier Pollock displayed several styles and colors of short-sleeve golf/polo shirts. It was determined that this was a good idea that would require further investigation.

XVI. There being no further business to discuss, the Chair adjourned the meeting at 6:35pm.