USA Powerlifting
Spectator SportsAlaska, United States51-200 Employees
USA Powerlifting governs drug-tested competition in the United States and traces its origins to 1981 when it was founded as the American Drug Free Powerlifting Association. It sanctions local and regional meets as well as national championships, and it provides a pathway for top competitors to join the USA Powerlifting Pro Series with the potential to earn a Pro Card. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it operates with an Executive Committee led by the President and maintains state chairs to develop and administer local events and records. Headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska, the organization operates within the spectator sports industry and oversees the sport through a format that centers on three lifts—squat, bench press, and deadlift—with three attempts per lift and a total-based scoring system. In 2022, USA Powerlifting announced the launch of its official World Records, marking a public milestone for the organization’s competitive framework. The organization has faced discrimination-related legal actions and related rulings in Minnesota in the early 2020s, reflecting governance and participation policy challenges that have been reported in the press.