Bodybuilding rules: changes in 2005
Bodybuilding rules changed in several areas in 2005: masters weight classes, men’s bodyfitness, semifinal procedures and entry fees. This overview organizes the EBFF’s decisions from that time to make it easier to understand what affected competitors and organizers.
Why did bodybuilding rules change in 2005?
2005 marked a transition in European bodybuilding. More masters athletes were entering competitions, men’s fitness needed clearer boundaries, and semifinals at some major competitions were running very long. A semifinal lasting 10 hours is uncomfortable for athletes, judges and spectators alike.
The EBFF Executive Committee sought to make the rules more practical. Some changes directly affected what happened on stage, while others concerned organization: entry fees, sponsorship packages, judges’ responsibilities and doping control. The simple truth is that as categories are added, the entire system needs to become more precise.
Bodybuilding rules for masters categories
New weight classes for masters athletes aged 40-49 came into effect in Europe in 2005. They were:
- up to 80 kg
- up to 90 kg
- over 90 kg
The entry rules also mattered. Masters entries remained unlimited, but national federations had to distinguish between A-team athletes and additional masters entrants. A-team masters athletes could enter each class, with the number of entries determined by the number of classes, but no more than 2 in each class.
There was no limit on additional masters entrants. However, they had to cover all their own living expenses and budget for a higher entry fee. As a competitor, you had more opportunities to compete, but you needed to consider the costs in advance.
Men’s bodyfitness and new limits
A new set of rules was introduced alongside men’s fitness for male competitors who did not want to compete with the muscle mass of a traditional bodybuilder but still had athletic, aesthetic physiques and clear muscle definition. A maximum body weight, or MBW, was set according to body height, or BH.
- Up to 170 cm: MBW = (BH -100) + 2
- 170.1 cm to 178 cm: MBW = (BH -100) + 4
- Over 178 cm: MBW = (BH -100) + 6
For a competitor measuring 174 cm, for example, the calculation was: MBW = (174 -100) +4 = 78 kg. This made the purpose of the category clearer. The aim was not simply “smaller bodybuilding,” but a separate discipline in which physique, proportions and stage presentation had to work together.
Bodyfitness had three competition rounds. Round 1, the semifinals, included quarter turns and comparisons in five mandatory poses:
- Front double biceps
- Front lat spread
- Side chest
- Back double biceps
- Abdominals and thighs
Round 2 was the final for the top five. Competitors performed the mandatory poses three times at different positions on stage. Round 3 consisted of a 90-second posing routine and an unscored posedown. Competitors wore their own posing attire, which had to measure at least 2 cm at the sides.
Bodybuilding rules for organizing major competitions
Men’s bodyfitness became official in Europe in 2005. The EBFF decided to add one open category to the program of the 2005 European Men’s Championships in Brașov, Romania, and to the junior men’s division at the 2005 European Junior and Masters Championships in Białystok, Poland.
The International Junior Bodyfitness Cup was to take place alongside the 2005 Junior and Masters World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. There were also plans to collect better statistics: all participants at the 2005 European Men’s Championships had their body fat percentage tested, while competitors at the 2005 European Women’s Championships in Yalta, Ukraine, were precisely weighed and measured.
A two-session format was approved for the semifinals. If a semifinal ran too long, it was split into a morning session and an afternoon session. The interval between these two sessions had to be at least 3 hours. The schedule, categories, officials in charge and judges had to be announced at the technical meeting before the championships.
Entry fees, doping control and sponsorship packages
The EBFF Official Supervisor, Mr. Axel Bauer, prepared an agreement on clean sport and doping control for athletes competing under the IFBB/EBFF. The document was to be available from the International Federation. This was an important step, because tightening the rules is about fair competition as well as poses on stage.
The EBFF Executive Council approved the following entry fees for 2005:
- European Men’s Championships, Brașov, Romania: !00.00 EUR
- European Women’s Championships, Yalta, Ukraine: 100.00 EUR
- European Junior and Masters Championships, Białystok, Poland: juniors and A-team masters: 100.00 EUR
- Other masters entrants: 200.00 EUR
The new sponsor package was to include admission passes to the semifinals and finals, local transport between the airport, hotel and competition venue, and admission passes to the banquets. The recommended price for the packages mentioned above was 10,000 EUR. Sponsors were to negotiate hotel and accommodation costs themselves.
FAQ: bodybuilding rules in 2005
What changed for masters competitors?
Three weight categories were added for masters competitors aged 40-49: up to 80 kg, up to 90 kg and over 90 kg. A distinction was also made between A-Team masters competitors and additional masters competitors.
How was the maximum weight for men’s bodyfitness calculated?
Maximum body weight, or MBW, was calculated based on body height, or BH. For example, for a competitor measuring 174 cm, the formula was MBW = (174 -100) +4 = 78 kg.
Why were the semifinals split into two sessions?
The reason was practical: the European Championships semifinals could sometimes last 10 hours. There was to be a break of at least 3 hours between the two sessions.
Author: EBFF
Source: WHO – physical activity.
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