On July 15, 1994, the National Governing Body of the American Drug Free Powerlifting Association (ADFPA) established the Sports Medicine Committee. The ADFPA Executive Committee appointed Michael Hartle, DC, CSCS, to chair the new committee. It was Dr. Hartle and his wife, Monique Levesque-Hartle, DC, who submitted the idea of a sports committee as an agenda item at the ADFPA national meeting.
The ADFPA is the National Governing Body for drug-free powerlifting in the US and is the official representative of the World Drug Free Powerlifting Federation (WDFPF).
The ADFPA, a not-for-profit organization, is the largest powerlifting organization in the US, with some 6,000 athletes registered and over 180 competitions each year.
The sport of powerlifting consists of three events: squat, bench press, and deadlift. The athlete is allowed three attempts in each event. Placement in the competition is determined by totalling the best lift of each event. Powerlifting is a spectacular demonstration of power, fitness, technique and the discipline needed to maximize strength. There are 11 weight classes for men, and 10 for women. Powerlifting is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and should be an Olympic sport by the beginning of the 21st century.
The prime directive of the new Sports Medicine Committee is to establish a network of DCs and other allied health professionals in the US to treat at all ADFPA national competitions. Local and regional competitions will eventually be included. The Sports Medicine Committee will work with the ADFPA's drug testing and drug education committees to set up proper protocols for various drug testing procedures and to increase awareness of the dangers of steroid abuse. The committee will also conduct research projects with an emphasis on strength athletes.
Dr. Hartle and wife Monique were named to head this year's sports medicine staff at the WDFPF Men's and Women's World Powerlifting Championship in Minneapolis, Minnesota (September 16-18). Over 100 of the world's top men and women powerlifters competed. The Hartle's also hosted and directed the 1994 ADFPA National Collegiate Powerlifting Championship, where they provided a treatment facility.
It is refreshing to know that there are organizations devoted to furthering drug-free athletic competitions in this era of performance enhancing drugs use and abuse (growth hormone, steroids etc.) Mandatory drug testing allows drug-free athletes to compete on an equal basis. The ADFPA has strict drug testing policies. Meet directors must drug test at least 10 percent of the competitors or have their sanctioning revoked and all records set at their contest nullified. The ADFPA performs either urinalysis or polygraph, and sometimes both. The banned substance list of the ADFPA follows that of the U.S. Olympic Committee. Athletes failing either of the drug tests is banned from competing in ADFPA contests for three years.
With chiropractic's drug-free approach to health, it's appropriate that a chiropractor has been named chairman of the ADFPA Sports Medicine Committee. Chiropractic's most visible stand against steroid use, you may recall, was an ACA media campaign. The ACA's efforts drew enough attention to win a 1991 Emmy.
Dr. Hartle invites doctors interested in working with the ADFPA's Sports Medicine Committee to contact him at (414) 833-7844.
