It does not matter if you are new to bodybuilding or a seasoned competitor;
choosing a bodybuilding sanction can be confusing. The growth of bodybuilding
has led to many new sanctions, and they seem to change every few years. To
complicate things further, some sanctions drug tests while others do not. It can be
especially difficult for a new competitor to know the difference between the
sanctions. Even within drug-tested sanctions, testing policies may also differ,
and that can make things even more confusing.
In addition, new competitors may not understand the difference between
professional and amateur competitions and who is eligible to compete at each.
The process of obtaining professional status differs between sanctions. Some
sanctions may accept a competitor’s professional status from another sanction
while others do not.
This chapter helps you sort through the sanctions so you can select the
competition best for you.

DRUG USE IN BODYBUILDING

While it is a taboo subject, performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) have been a
part of bodybuilding for over 60 years. It is important to address drug use before
discussing the differences in drug testing between sanctions since it plays into
choosing the bodybuilding federation that best suits you.
What a competitor puts in his or her body is ultimately his or her own
decision. We do not discourage or endorse drug use in this book but want to help
both those who use drugs and those who do not learn what their options are in
terms of choosing a sanction. Individuals considering using PEDs should discuss
this decision with a physician or qualified medical professional. We encourage
those using PEDs to have routine bloodwork performed by a qualified health
professional.
We will not discuss protocols for using PEDs in this book. However, all other
contest prep approaches will be applicable, regardless of the sanction chosen.

UNTESTED AMATEUR SANCTIONS

The NPC is the primary untested amateur bodybuilding sanction in the United
States, and it has over 200 scheduled competitions. Information about the NPC
and its competitions can be found at www.npcnewsonline.com.
Competitors within the NPC do not need to qualify for regional amateur
competitions, but amateur competitors do not win prize money. However,
competitors can become NPC nationally qualified based on placing at a regional
show. At designated national qualifying competitions, if a male competitor
places in the top two or a female competitor places in the top three of the open
division, he or she becomes nationally qualified. There may be other situations
when a competitor qualifies as well. Consult with the NPC website or NPC show
promoters with specific questions regarding national qualification.
When a competitor becomes nationally qualified, he or she is eligible to
compete at national-level NPC competitions for one year. Examples of these
competitions include NPC Nationals, NPC Junior Nationals, NPC Universe,
NPC USA, and others. Competitors at national competitions can be awarded
professional status in the IFBB based on placing. Many competitors want to turn
pro and compete in the IFBB. Much like in other athletic endeavors, turning pro
is extremely difficult because the competition is stiff. The number of IFBB pro
cards awarded differs between competitions. Consult with the show information
for each specific national-level show for more information regarding obtaining
professional status in the IFBB.

UNTESTED PROFESSIONAL SANCTIONS

The IFBB is the primary untested professional bodybuilding sanction worldwide,
and it promotes competitions such as Mr. Olympia, Arnold Classic, and
many others. IFBB Mr. Olympia winners are usually considered the best in the
world in their divisions.
As previously discussed, competitors in the United States can qualify through
the NPC. However, international competitors can also qualify through amateur
sanctions in their countries and should consult with those sanctions for details
about how to obtain professional status. More information about the IFBB can
be found at www.ifbb.com.

DRUG-TESTED SANCTIONS

Through most of bodybuilding history, competitions have not been drug tested.
However, as drug use has become more prevalent in the past two or three
decades, the demand for drug-tested shows has increased dramatically. As a
result, many bodybuilding sanctions test athletes before competition, usually
through polygraph and urine testing. Some sanctions have also moved toward
off-season testing of professional drug-free competitors. While there is only one
primary untested bodybuilding sanction (NPC/IFBB), there are currently many
drug-tested federations to choose from.
Although the banned substance lists differ between sanctions, the substances
that are typically banned are anabolic steroids, growth hormones, thyroid
hormone, insulin, ephedra, clenbuterol, prescription diuretics (herbal diuretics
are typically legal for use), and any other substance that raises testosterone levels above the physiological range. To avoid issues, we encourage all competitors considering a drug-tested competition to consult the banned substance list before
signing up. The primary differences in the banned substance lists of different
sanctions are regarding certain over-the-counter supplements as well as the use
of physician-monitored hormone replacement therapy. Just because a
supplement is sold legally over the counter, that does not mean it is
automatically allowed in all drug-tested federations. For this reason, it’s
important to check with your sanction’s guidelines before you use any new
supplement.

Like the NPC, a competitor does not have to qualify for an amateur
competition. Also, just as in the NPC, prize money is not awarded in these
contests. Unlike the NPC, competitors do not need to compete at national events
to obtain pro status. Competitors can obtain professional status in a drug-tested
sanction by winning the open overall in their divisions at a competition
designated as a pro qualifier. Once a competitor obtains professional status in a
drug-tested sanction, he or she can compete in drug-tested professional
competitions for prize money. At this point, most drug-tested sanctions accept a
competitor’s professional status won in another sanction; however, we
recommend asking the sanction in which you plan to compete if there are any
questions.