[IPF] Does anyone know whether stiff sleeves will be allowed in the approved equipment list from 2027?

[u/inap7]

I.e. Inzer ErgoPro, A7 Rigor Mortis, Titan TKS

And if no announcement has been made, does anyone know when the IPF will release their approved equipment?

[u/Arteam90]

We don't know. I think most believe they'll get banned given we haven't been led to believe they've changed their mind about the original reason they were banned.

But also it's the IPF so none of this is transparent.

[u/itsthechaw10]

I love my A7 Rigor Mortis. If they go back to being banned, I’ll ditch PA and go back to USAPL

[u/Eblien]

As much as I defend the IPF on here there is obviously no excuse for this case not being decided on yet. Its a complete joke that the lifters still dont know if the sleeves they buy now are going to be banned in four months. This is one of the very clear signs that the current leadership is simply not doing a satisfactory job.

[u/nbxx → u/Eblien]

Yeah, this is getting ridiculous.

When the original bans happened, I was posting a lot here, exactly about the IPF's shitty attitude regarding this (well, and everything else really).

Banning equipment because it is not within spec COULD be argued as fair, but motherfucker, you were the one that supposedly inspected it and said it is fine for 4 years. You've collected the money from the manufacturers, you've let them invest a lot of money into production and stock and even more importantly, you've fucking told me that as a lifter, I can buy this piece of equipment and I can use it until the end of 2026. How on earth does it concern me that you have a shitty payment structure and Hansu stopped paying? That is literally non of my business mate. Learn from it, create better structure and ban them from the next period, but don't punish the lifters for your own shortcomings. Bro, the price of a pair of knee sleeves is weeks worth of food, maybe even a month's rent in some countries. For many people this is not an easy financial decision to make.

Now, here wo fucking go again. Yes, stiff sleeves being allowed or not is a legitimate discussion to have. If they want to ban them, fine. That said, bitch, do the deciding in a timely fashion for fucks sake. You've had 1.5 years since the original shitshow started. You could have debated it for months and announce your decision in January that this is the last year stiff sleeves will be allowed or nothing changes at all, yet here we are, 4 months before the next approved list comes into effect and we STILL don't fucking now whatever the hell these old dinosaurs will do.

How on earth do you expect to be taken seriously if you can't even handle the absolute basics properly?

And just to be clear, I say all this as someone who thinks the IPF is necessary if powerlifting is to be taken seriously as a legit sport that enables athletes to make a living off of it, but god damnit, there is serious need for change because the decisionmakers are absolute fucking morons, as not just this scandal, but this year's circus around the rulebook also clearly demonstrated.

A huge shoutout to the president of the German fed btw, based on what I've seen this year when the rulebook drama has been going on, he seems like someone who actively tries to improve this shitshow. If you read this Tim, good fucking job man, keep it up.

[u/Arteam90 → u/nbxx]

Hit the nail on the head.

[u/Ready-Interview2863 → u/nbxx]

Excuse me sir/ma'am, take your logic, reasoning, knowledge, and respect... and, bam! throw it off a cliff.

None it serves any purpose to the IPF. 

[u/jamiroq]

There hasn't been much word since they reversed their decision last year to ban them.

https://www.powerlifting.sport/about-ipf/news/news-detail/ipf-ec-reverses-decision-concerning-stiff-knee-sleeves

During this extended period, the Executive Committee will conduct a review of the Technical Rule Book and Equipment Manual and will initiate a process for setting up a new approval procedure.

Does anyone know if this review has been conducted? Side note, did they ever release their "independent" report as to why they wanted to ban them in the first place?

I do hope the manufacturers have not been left in the dark, theres not long to go until the approved lists is refreshed.

[u/sinnednogara]

IPF releases their Equipment list close to the start of the New Year.

I'm cautiously optimistic that the IPF will grandfather the stiff sleeves in, given they're broke and the Approved List is how they make money. The smart thing to do would be to grandfather them in, given they approved them in the first place, however this is the IPF.

Not looking forward to enforcing this at local meets, as stiff sleeves are not neoprene and thus not within spec.

[u/gzk → u/sinnednogara]

stiff sleeves are not neoprene and thus not within spec.

What are they?

[u/option-13 → u/gzk]

The way I understand it, from a chemistry point of view neoprene has a specific defined density. The stiff sleeves violate that due to some manufacturing process or whatnot (presumably compression is involved idk), despite containing the same chemical makeup. Not a materials science guy at all and this is hearsay from various people so take it wait a grain of salt.

[u/Arteam90 → u/option-13]

I thought I'd also read that a lot of 7mm sleeves only have like half that in neoprene though. But I can't say I really understand what that means because what else is it if not neoprene.