Fitness.ee - Who plows the field of bodybuilding!?

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Who plows the field of bodybuilding!?

Indrek Otsus

Who plows the field of bodybuilding: some information for those who are interested.
We live in a time when the world if finally open for Estonian bodybuilders aswell and that is a cheering fact. Many competitions are taken part of and-suprise, suprise-even medals brought home. That is wonderful, really!
I have been asked many times recently about how many titles are given out every year and who are they given out by. I think the follwing informatio about some bodyuilding and fitness organizatons in the world and their competitions should be of interest to a wider circle.

IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilders) Founded in 1946. At the moment (year 2005) there are 173 member countries. The only bodybuilding organization that has the recognition of GAISP and International Olympic Commitee (from year 1998). IFBB also has the recognition of 90 national olympic commitees. IFBB organizes Amateur World Championships (from 1959) and cotinental championships (including European Championships, from 1968). Federation is divided into amateur and proffessional division.The most valuable title for proffessionals is the Mr Olympia title, which has been given out from year 1965. IFBB is by far the best on both- organization and sports levels and that in amateur as well as proffessional divisions. Estonia is represented in IFBB by EFKL (Estonian Bodyuilding and Fitness Association).
IFBB has joined WADA`s (World Antidoping Agency) codex and performs doping tests in amateur title competitions according to ROK`s requirements from year 1986.
IFBB recuires doping testing for athletes prior to competing in a title competition as well as testing in national championships (EKFL orders doping testing in Estonian Championships and Estonian Cup, extracompetition tests are also planned in the future).
Estonians have gotten a gold medal from IFBB Amateur World Championships (Inna Uit, 1996) and a bronze medal (Olev Annus, 1990, he won the medal as a citizen of Finland though). From European Championships we have 2 golds (Ain Paavo, 1990 and Inna Uit, 1995)

NABBA (National Amateur Body-Builders` Association) Founded in 1950 in England and has remained England-centered till today. As of this year holds Mr Universe competition for amateurs (for proffessionals since 1952), competition is held tradiionally in London every year. NABBA is not as strong on sports level as IFBB, but many athletes who started in NABBA have reached their absolute peak in IFBB also (Schwarzeegger, Zane, Dickerson). Mostly the  movement is opposite athletes who don`t make it in IFBB move to NABBA.
In 1984 a sub-organization NABBA-Inrnational  was established. It connects 29 countries and holds World Championships and Eropean Campionships both for amateurs and proffessionals).

Olev Annus has been successful in NABBA 3 gold medals (Amateur World Campionships in 1987, Proffessional Mr Universe in 1987 and Proffessional World Championships in 1991).

WABBA (World Body Building Association) Association was founded by the legendary French bodybuilder Serge Nubret`,  joined NABBA in 1977 and unjoined again in 1983. Holds World Championships and European Championships where participants are mainly (not so strong) NABBA bodybuilders.

WFF (World Fitness Federation) Lithuanian bodybuilding activist Edmundas Daubaras` fellowship. Together with German Klaus Hoffmann they founded a project called WFF in 1995 to enhance fitness. In 1998 they organized World Championships in fitness in Palanga (Lithuania). After the competition they got into an argument and both of them established their own WFF Daubaras established WFF Eastern Hemisphere (was later renamed to WFF International) and Hoffmann WFF Southern Hemisphere. In year 2000 they decided to divide competitions Daubaras got European Championships and Hoffmann World Championships and WFF Universe. In 2003 Hoffmann gave up World Championships because he couldn`t find sponsors, from then on Daubaras organizes both European Championships and World Championships.

WFF is a true every man`s league. They have anounced that direction themselves, for example in Wold Championships there are  close to a 100 competing categories which means a 100 (!) medal sets (in every weight category there are also different age groups etc).
Competitors are divided (by bodymass?) into classes, the number of which is as many as necessary depending on the number of competitors. Of course the tougher class competitors measure up to a bodybuilder. Since 2003 there is also a proffessional division.

Is that kind of league even necessary? I think it is for people with no serious athletic plans, there is also a window here for those, who feel disturbed by doping tests.

So Estonian athletes really do have a choice. I hope the given information will make deciding easier. In conclusion just to point out a fact: starting from year 2006 EKFL, following the statute of IFBB, cannot allow it`s athletes to participate in any other oranizations` competitions.

Indrek Otsus