The Constitution Of The IDFPA
Microsoft Word Version of the Constitution
DATE: June 1997 REVISION:
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Section 1 THE NAME AND AIMS
1. The name of the company (herein called the Association or the IDFPA) is Irish Drug Free Powerlifting Association.
2. The registered office of the Association is to be sited in the Republic of Ireland.
3. To promote and encourage the art and science of Powerlifting as a means to the acquisition or improvement of physical health and development, and as a form of competitive sport.
4. To actively discourage and outlaw the use of drugs as an aid to competitive performance as an aid to physical development or performance.
5. To train and instruct teachers, instructors and coaches in Powerlifting and weightlifting for physical training and competition. To award diplomas and certificates for proficiency in teaching, instructing and coaching and to maintain a register of teachers, instructors and coaches who have been so qualified.
6. To train and instruct referees for Powerlifting competitions. To award diplomas and certificates to certify the proficiency of such referees and to maintain a register of such referees.
7. To promote Powerlifting competitions and make awards as are customary in amateur sport for such competitions and to draw up rules (Bye Laws) governing the performance of Powerlifting.
8. To purchase, manufacture, sell and otherwise deal in apparatus and appliances required for or suitable for use with the practice of weightlifting of every description.
9. To conduct courses and classes of instruction in Powerlifting and all forms of weight training and to print, publish, issue and circulate such papers, periodicals, books, circulars and other literary undertakings for these or any other purposes as may seem conducive to any of the aims of the Association.
10. The IDFPA's emblem and seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Association and shall be in any form as may be approved from time to time by the National Council.
Section 2 THE NATIONAL COUNCIL
1. The IDFPA shall be managed by a democratically elected body of officers.
2. The National Council shall consist of the following officers: President, Vice President, General Secretary, Treasurer, Drug Control Officer, Editor. Posts for Regional Officers shall be created as required.
Section 3 NATIONAL COUNCIL MEETINGS
1. The National Council has a duty to meet no less than twice every year.
2. There shall be meetings of the National Council as are deemed necessary to conduct the day to day business of the IDFPA, to amend the rules and regulations governing Powerlifting and to hear any appeals by members who have been subject to disciplinary procedures. The date, time and place of such meetings will be decided by the President in consultation with Members of the National Council by mail, telephone or meeting and advertised in the IDFPA newsletter or magazine at least 21 days prior to such meeting. The National Council has the authority to open all meetings by a majority vote, of council members present, to any IDFPA member who, with the prior approval of the President, shall have voice during the Council Meeting but without the right to vote.
3. The President will act as Chairman at National Council Meetings and will hold the casting vote only, on all matters to be decided. In the absence of the President the National Council may elect anyone present to take the chair and such a person will have the casting vote only.
Similarly in the absence of the General Secretary, the National Council may elect a person to act as Secretary for the duration of the meeting.
Section 4 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS
1. The AGM shall be held once a year with at least 21 days notice in the Association's newsletter or magazine. Only current members may vote at a IDFPA meeting. Non- members may only attend meetings with the prior consent of the President or chairman of such a meeting. Any officer who ceases to be a member of the association must tender his or her resignation.
2. The order of business at Annual General Meetings will be as follows:-
a) Roll Call
b) Apologies for Absence
c) Minutes of Previous Meeting
d) Reports of Officers, Boards and Standing (that is permanently established) Committees.
e) Reports of Special (Select or Ad Hoc) Committees (that is, committees appointed to exist only until they have completed a specific task.
f) Special Orders ( that is, matters that have previously been assigned a type of special priority).
g) Unfinished business and General Orders (that is matters previously introduced which have come over from the preceding meeting).
h) New Business (that is, matters initiated in the present meeting).
i) Election of Officers.
j) Any Other Business.
3. Propositions to the AGM must be received by the General Secretary, at least 5 working days prior to the AGM. Propositions received later will only be accepted at the Chairman's discretion.
Section 5 CHANGE OF CONSTITUTION OR RULES
1. Alteration to the IDFPA Constitution may only be made at the AGM or at a special meeting called for that purpose.
2. Any change in the Constitution or amendment to rules will take effect 14 days after publication in the IDFPA newsletter or magazine.
Section 6 NATIONAL COUNCIL OFFICERS AND DIVISIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
1. All officers will be appointed annually at the AGM.
2. The National Council is a self discipling body. Where the duly appointed National Council member contravenes the disciplinary rules or code of conduct of the IDFPA or patently fails to meet the obligations of his or her terms of reference, the President may instigate voting procedures within the National Council to facilitate his or her removal from that body.
3. Should a Regional Officer be unable to attend a National Council Meeting, he may delegate his vote to a member of his or her choice. The President must be notified of such a delegation in writing or by telephone prior to the National Council Meeting.
7. There shall be no established order of succession to any office. Should any National Officer cease, for any reason, to hold office, The President of National Council shall call a meeting and a successor shall be chosen to serve until the next AGM.
8. Any member of the National Council may resign at any time by giving notice in writing to the National Council, the President or General Secretary. Should any Regional Officer cease to hold office for any reason, the President or National Council may appoint a replacement to represent that Division until the AGM.
Section 7 SUB COMMITTEES
1. The National Council may appoint sub-committees whose members need not be members of the National Council. Members of these committees may be invited to attend the National Council meetings to tender expert advice in a non-voting capacity.
Section 8 EXPENSES
1. The IDFPA does, wherever possible, undertake to repay expenses for duties carried out on behalf of the Association. However, claims to cover the actual amount expended on traveling, subsistence, hotels or other expenses actually or necessarily paid will depend on the financial position of the Association.
3. Any member who, because of specific circumstances, will need expenses guaranteed, should, prior to the engagement, contact the General Secretary.
Section 9 FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS AND PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND PROPERTY OR PROPERTY RENTAL
1. The National Council may elect to buy equipment, supplies or rent or buy property to facilitate the efficient running of the Association. It may also elect to pay a full time officer or officers. All such expenditure will be subject to the financial position of the Association.
2. Subject to conditions set out in Section 8 and paragraph 1 of Section 9, the Treasurer and one other director (Secretary or President) may authorise payment and/or assume financial obligations on behalf of the IDFPA in consultation with the General Secretary. Whenever possible such authorisation should be from the Treasurer and General Secretary.
3. No IDFPA Officer or member may undertake to take over or meet financial obligations that are not of the Association's making or knowledge.
4. The IDFPA reserves the right to disassociate itself from any financial transaction taken without the prior knowledge of the General Secretary.
5. The General Secretary shall ensure that an annual audit of IDFPA finances is conducted and that a balance sheet be available for inspection at the AGM.
Section 10 ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERSHIP
1. The IDFPA shall not discriminate against any member on the grounds of sex, race, colour or creed or involve itself with any organisation which discriminates against persons on the grounds of sex, race, colour or creed.
2. The IDFPA maintains the right if it so chooses, to refuse membership to individuals who;
a) Have been suspended / expelled from other sports associations or bodies for drug abuse.
b) Have a history of anti-social behaviour or drug abuse.
c) Have previously been expelled from the IDFPA .
d) Have been or who are involved with organisations or associations whose aims or
stance is not considered compatible with the aims and or stance of the IDFPA.
e) Have in any way aided or abetted individuals to abuse drugs.
f) Have in any way helped or supported athletes/lifters or sports people, to pursue their sporting endeavours when known to be abusing drugs or who have supported or participated with organisations whose stance on drug control is not considered by the IDFPA to be compatible with the aims and or stance of the IDFPA.
g) Have been or who are involved with organisations that accept as competitors, athletes/lifters under suspension or life ban for drug abuse or anti-social behaviour.
i) It feels are in any way unsuitable without giving a reason.
Section 11 CONDITIONS OF MEMBERSHIP
1. Membership of the IDFPA shall be by annual subscription. The annual subscription becoming due on the first day of January each year. The National Council may alter the rate of subscription as and when it may seem fit to do so. Applicants will sign the IDFPA membership form, which includes a drug covenant and requires personal details.
2. No person may join the IDFPA under a pseudonym (fictitious name). No member may adopt a pseudonym within the IDFPA. Any person attempting to join under a pseudonym or providing false information on the membership application form, will have his or her membership declared null and void and any monies paid will not be returned to the applicant.
3. The IDFPA will attempt to provide a newsletter free with the membership but may, if the National Council sees fit to do so, make a charge for such a newsletter and vary such charge as and when it sees fit to do so. The IDFPA will make a charge to non-members for the newsletter.
4. With the exception of the Master of Ceremonies, Recorder, Timekeeper, Marshal and loaders, only IDFPA members may compete in or officiate at IDFPA proceedings.
5. The IDFPA will only recognise as members individuals as members and will claim no right of influence over clubs or institutions. The IDFPA will not claim financial dues from clubs or institutions.
6. Persons who are accepted as members will be issued with a membership card as a receipt for monies paid.
7. To enable out of competition drug testing to be done at short notice, any member who changes his or her address, must notify the Drug Control Officer prior to such a change of address. If the date of change is doubtful an emergency telephone number should be supplied.
8. All members are expected to abide by the Rules and Regulations of the IDFPA and any failure to do so, including behaviour which would render a person ineligible for membership, will result in that member being subject to disciplinary procedures. This includes anti-social behaviour and any behaviour which may be considered to be obstructive or detrimental to the smooth running or image of the IDFPA.
Section 12 DIVISIONS AND LEAGUES
1. The National Council may, at its discretion, create local territorial divisions of the Association to be known as Divisions and may from time to time define or vary the area encompassed by such a Division or disband or dissolve any Division.
2. Where possible each Division shall be constituted and its affairs carried out in accordance with Bye-Laws in that behalf to be made by the National Council and shall have such powers and duties as the National Council may from time to time think fit.
Section 13 CHAMPIONSHIPS, COMPETITIONS AND MATCHES
1. All championships, competitions and matches involving Powerlifting will be carried out under the conditions laid down by the W.D.F.P.F. Rulebook.
2. No championship, competition or match will be planned or executed without the permission of the IDFPA. A permit for any event, including competitions or individual lifts, must be obtained from the General Secretary.
3. Competitors at all IDFPA events must produce proof of membership at the scales prior to being weighed in.
Section 14 INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, COMPETITIONS AND MATCHES
1. The National Council may align itself to any international Powerlifting organisation that it feels is compatible with the aims of the IDFPA and will seek to insure that the IDFPA's Rules and Regulations governing the sport of Powerlifting are kept the same as the rules governing Powerlifting performance in such an international body. The IDFPA, through its National Council, retains the right to withdraw from any international organisation which it is felt no longer performs in a manner compatible with the aims of the IDFPA.
2. The National Council does however, retain the right to apply its own Rules and Regulations to competitive Powerlifting at any level in addition to international rules and regulations.
3. No member may compete in, organise or take part in any international competition without prior permission from the IDFPA General Secretary.
Section 15 DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS UPON DISSOLUTION
In the event this Association dissolves and its assets are liquidated, after paying necessary winding up expenses, the remaining assets shall be distributed as determined by the National Council at that time.
Section 16 DRUG ABUSE
1. The IDFPA is an association of life-time drug-free individuals and drug abuse is strictly forbidden. The IDFPA will ban any member found guilty of previous or current drug abuse, subject to a right of appeal as set out in the disciplinary rules.
2. Drug abuse is the use by, or distribution to, a sportsman or sportswoman (the competitor) of any substance defined by the IDFPA (see Paragraph 6). The identification of a substance and/or metabolites of a doping class in a competitors urine will constitute an offence. Evidence of blood doping, pharmacological, chemical or physical manipulation may also be considered an offence which may be penalised.
3. Any member or potential member must, at any time if requested by the IDFPA Drug Control Officer, designated official or Sports Council Drug Control Officer, submit to a drug test at a moment's notice. Refusal to do so or indulging in any behaviour considered by the National Council to be obstructive or lacking co-operation prior to, during or following the giving of a urine sample or any other form of drug testing, will be considered a positive test. The IDFPA membership form which must be completed and signed by all members, includes a drug covenant clearly stating that a member agrees to do everything in his or her power to enhance and ease the practical aspects of the testing procedure. As such, a member's responsibility to co-operate does not start and end with the giving of a urine sample.
4. Any member found guilty of advising athletes or lifters on how to abuse drugs will be banned for life.
5. If, on analysis by a reputable body, a urine sample is found to contain a substance banned by the IDFPA, or indicates the use of any agent which the IDFPA considers constitutes drug abuse, this will constitute a positive test and is grounds for a life ban. No 'Clean Period' i.e. period of abstinence from drug-taking shall be recognised as grounds for removal of this ban. Under exceptional circumstances the taking of a banned drug may be considered by the National Council, following an appeal, not to constitute drug abuse.
6. Banned substances are as detailed on the international Olympic Committee (IOC) list of banned substances. The IDFPA reserve the right to add to or subtract from this list any substance which it feels is relevant or irrelevant to what constitutes drug abuse. The IDFPA will notify the Sports Council Doping Control Unit of any such alterations. In general, the IDFPA will recognise drug tests by other reputable bodies (IOC or WDFPF accredited laboratories).
7. In the case of out of competition drug testing, the National Council will decide what drugs or what dosage of any given drug, constitutes drug abuse in consultation with an official WDFPF accredited drug control body. Similarly the Disciplinary Committee may decide that following an in or out of competition drug test, the taking of what may be considered an excessive amount of a non-banned substance, constitutes drug abuse.
8. It is incumbent on all IDFPA members to check with the Drug Control Officer or the Sports Council Doping Control Unit, whether any drug they may wish to ingest, is on the banned list. Ignorance of what constitutes a banned substance will not be considered grounds for an appeal against a ban for a positive drug test.
9. Any lifter, official or coach found guilty of drug abuse and banned for life, will have all records, titles and performances struck from the records.
Section 17 MEDIA PUBLICITY
1. Only members of the IDFPA National Council may make public statements of policy via the press, television or radio. Public statements made by member not National Council Officials are considered to be personal opinions and the IDFPA will not be held responsible for any legal repercussions resulting from such statements. Members who make public statements which could in any way bring the IDFPA into disrepute will be liable to disciplinary action by the National Council.
Section 18 MISCELLANEOUS
1. Any member whose behaviour could be considered to be detrimental to the image and aims of the IDFPA will be subject to disciplinary action. This includes association with non-members whose behaviour could be considered detrimental to the sport of Powerlifting.
Section 19 DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES
1. The IDFPA maintain the right to insist that its standards of behaviour, presentation and Rules are strictly enforced. Any member whose behaviour may be considered to be in breach of the Rules or Constitution or unacceptable to the IDFPA's standards of behaviour, will be subject to disciplinary procedures which may result in a request for a letter of apology, a suspension and/or a ban from membership. This includes any action which, if pursued as an existing member, would result in an applicant being considered ineligible for membership (see section 10).
2. Any complaint regarding undisciplined anti-social behaviour likely to bring the IDFPA into disrepute will, in the first instance, be brought to the attention of the President whose prerogative it is to decide whether the offence is of an nature to warrant a Warning of Conduct and to request a written letter of apology from the offender. If a satisfactory letter of apology is forthcoming, the matter is ended. If no letter is forthcoming within 14 days of the request being received by Registered Letter or if the apology is deemed to be unsatisfactory, the President shall, via the General Secretary, instruct the National Council to convene to consider the matter with a view to instigating further disciplinary action. In all other matters relating to behaviour which is not considered to be consistent with that required by the IDFPA Constitution, the President will be notified and will then, via the General Secretary, instruct the National Council to convene to discuss the matter. For procedures following notification of a positive test by drug control agencies, see Section 22.
The National Council shall discuss the known facts and details and consider the implications. It shall be empowered to suspend for a period not exceeding one year any member found guilty of behaviour which is not considered consistent with that required by the IDFPA Constitution. It is also empowered to ban for life, any member who commits a serious offence according to the IDFPA Constitution.
A suspended or banned member shall be excluded from competition dressing rooms, warming up areas and platform areas.
3. Prior to the National Council convening, a member accused of an offence shall be required to appear before that body, having been given at least 14 days notice by Registered Letter to the last known address. Failure to attend the hearing will not prejudice the Council's deliberations and the matter will be considered in his/her absence. The accused may defend his/her actions by letter which should be forwarded to the General Secretary, to arrive before the hearing. The accused may choose to conduct his/her defence or be represented in his/her absence or presence or to have with him/her a friend for moral support.
4. A member thus suspended shall be informed by the General Secretary by registered letter of his/her right to appeal.
5. For subsequent action see Section 20.
6. All decisions of a disciplinary nature but not Letters of Apology, shall be published in the "official Notes" of the newsletter.
7. The suspended or expelled member may not use the pages of the IDFPA Newsletter to argue the rights and merits of his/her case.
8. The IDFPA and its Officers shall not harangue, criticise nor defame a suspended or expelled member by public pronouncement or writings. Public pronouncement will only state the members punishment and for what reason. Officials involved in disciplinary proceedings shall not publicly speculate further nor elaborate upon decisions made under their aegis.
Section 20 RIGHTS OF APPEAL
1. Any member feeling aggrieved by the disciplinary decisions or actions, may appeal direct to the National Council by lodging a letter of appeal with the General Secretary, not more than 14 days after notification of disciplinary action. The written appeal must be accompanied by a pledge of £20 which will be retuned to the Appellant if the appeal is upheld and not considered to be of a frivolous nature. If no letter of appeal is received within 14 days of notification of disciplinary action, the decision of the National Council will be considered final and irrevocable.
2. The forwarding of an appeal letter and pledge does not confer any rights on the appellant and he/she is deemed suspended from all IDFPA activities from the date of receiving notification of suspension or expulsion until such time as his/her appeal is heard.
3. All appeals must be directed to the National Council via the General Secretary, who are obliged to respond to the Appellants grievance within 28 days of receiving his/her letter and financial pledge. The Appellant shall be granted at least 14 days notice of the precise date, time an venue of the hearing. The General Secretary shall discharge these details by Registered Letter. The National Council will decide on the hearing date, time and venue.
4. The National Council shall hear all the facts and evidence during which the Appellant is permitted to act as an advocate in his/her own defence or he/she may appoint any person to plead his/her defence on his/her behalf.
5. The decision of the National Council on Appeals shall be final and binding. The President shall instruct the National Council to act on the findings of the appeal and then instruct the General Secretary to inform the Appellant of these findings by Registered Letter.
Section 21 DRUG CONTROL PROCEDURES
1. The Drug Control Officer shall initiate all testing procedures except where Government or WDFPF approved agencies are in control. In this case the Drug Control Officer will act a s a liaison officer between such agencies and the IDFPA. The Drug Control Officer or an official designated by the Drug Control Officer will ensure that at competitions, everything possible is done to facilitate the sampling procedures. The Drug Control Officer or an official appointed by the Drug Control Officer, may carry out the urine sampling procedures but may not take samples from his/her own club members or members of his/her immediate family.
2. Negative Test. Subsequent to negative test results, the President will be notified in the first instance. The Newsletter Editor will then be notified so that the result may be published at the earliest opportunity.
3. Positive Test. Following notification of a positive test the Drug Control Officer will notify the President who will instruct the General Secretary to notify the person concerned, by Registered Letter to his or her last known address, that a banned substance has been found in the "A" sample and provide copies of laboratory data. The competitor should be invited to provide an explanation of the findings and should also be advised of his/her right to have the "B" sample analysed. At this stage the competitor will also be advised of the date of a disciplinary hearing which must not take place less than 14 days after receipt of this letter, and of his/her rights of defence (see Section 19). Analysis of the "B" sample should normally take place within 7 days of notification of a positive "A" sample. The competitor will also be notified that a positive "A" sample renders a competitor suspended from IDFPA activities from the date of notification to the date of the Disciplinary Hearing. If "B" sample analysis is requested to confirm the "A" sample finding, arrangements for sample analysis should be made by the Drug Control Officer with the relevant drug control agency. If analysis of the "B" sample is not requested it will be assumed that the competitor accepts the result of the "A" sample analysis and he/she will be judged accordingly.
4. The National Council shall convene to decide whether the result of the drug test or tests, constitutes drug abuse and the General Secretary will be informed of their conclusions. If the National Council decide that the competitor is guilty of drug abuse, the General Secretary will inform the competitor by Registered Letter to the last known address that his/her membership is suspended for the remainder of the current year and that from then on a life ban is imposed. The competitor will also be informed of his/her right to appeal (see Appeal Procedures, Section 20).
5. The results of a positive drug test and penalties imposed by the National Council shall be published in the IDFPA Newsletter and/or Magazine at the earliest possible opportunity. Similarly the result of appeals will also be published at the earliest possible opportunity.
6. Any member found guilty of drug abuse as detailed in Section 16, shall received a life ban from the IDFPA subject to the aforementioned procedures and rights of appeal.
Section 22 IDFPA BYE-LAWS
1. The Bye-Laws of the IDFPA are the laws and regulations governing the business of Powerlifting competitions or Powerlifting or individual lift displays or competitions and are generally as defined in the WDFPF (World Drug Free Powerlifting Federation) Rulebook, with the following exceptions:-
a) Male and female lifters may not compete against each other for championship titles.
b) One referee only is required for Provincial and County records and titles for league results but it is recommended that three referees always be used where possible.
c) Three referees are required for National Records. At least one of the three must have national status and he/she must take the command referee's position.
d) To claim National, European or World Records, lifters must have been members for at least six months, and have lifted twice at least and the same to apply to lifters in international competition.
e) Divisional competitions may be held with non-calibrated weights and scales but no records can be claimed.
f) At events below national level, first time only competitors may lift in a regulation T-shirt and loose fitting, non-supportive P.E. shorts, providing that such wear does not obscure the view of referees in relation to Squat depth.
Section 23 Appendix 1: Membership and Covenant