International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness Professional League

History

In 1946, the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB) was created. At the 1975 Mr. Universe and IFBB Congress, the IFBB established the IFBB Professional Committee (IFBB Pro Committee; later called the IFBB Professional Division (IFBB Pro Division)) to handle the professional bodybuilding division of the IFBB. In November 2004, International Federation of Bodybuilders Professional Division was renamed the International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness Professional Division.

In November 2005, the IFBB Pro Division was split from the IFBB and became the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness Professional League, which was its own legal entity, with its own rules and regulations. The IFBB Constitution became an amateur only sport governing document.

Amateur Affiliation

To become an IFBB Pro bodybuilder, one has to come via the route of the NPC. In the USA the NPC is the only route to IFBB Pro status. Internationally, one has to compete in an NPC Worldwide sanctioned show, of which there are various federations internationally with NPC affiliation.

Note there is no longer any affiliation between the IFBB amateur (IFBB) and the IFBB Pro League/NPC. Thus any competitor competing in an IFBB affiliated show have no route to the IFBB Pro League. The IFBB have their own version of professional status known as IFBB Elite Pro. However, even if a competitor holds this distinction, they will still have to come via the route of an NPC show or NPC affiliated show to gain IFBB Pro League status if they one day wish to compete on the Mr Olympia stage.

International Regional and Pro Qualifier Rules

2023 Olympia Qualification System

Note: Any former Olympia winner has lifetime eligibility, but after more than 5 years since their last Olympia win, approval of the IFBB Professional League is required.

Ref

• Jim Manion’s Pro League athlete membership rules cause controversy
• Jim Manion’s NPC promoter’s contract is allegedly anticompetitive

References

1. [https://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/117011/ifbb-professional-league-launches-ifbbprogymcom-with-hyperstrike IFBB Professional League Launches IFBBPROGYM.COM with HyperStrike]
2. [https://www.prosource.net/blogs/blog-1/ifbb-pro-league-andrew-oye-report-ifbb-pro-league-management-announces-new-rules-for-ifbb-pro-league-athlete-competition-contracts-within-the-international-federation-of-bodybuilding-fitness sep IFBB PRO LEAGUE ANDREW OYE REPORT: IFBB PRO LEAGUE MANAGEMENT ANNOUNCES NEW RULES FOR IFBB PRO LEAGUE ATHLETE COMPETITION CONTRACTS WITHIN THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF BODYBUILDING + FITNESS]
3. [https://issuu.com/muscleandfitnesshers/docs/m_f_hers-olympia_2020_special_edition Muscle & Fitness Hers - Olympia 2020 Special Edition]
4. [https://web.archive.org/web/20221220124931/https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2022/12/20/neggy-shelton-james-ayotte-bodybuilding/ Coached until she collapsed, an aspiring bodybuilder is now on life support]
5. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/interactive/2022/bodybuilding-extreme-training/ Dying to compete]
6. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/interactive/2022/bodybuilding-health-risks/ What bodybuilders do to their bodies — and brains]
7. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NK05Opuipc&ab_channel=CAROLINESOMMERS HOOKED: MUSCLE WOMEN]
8. [https://garyudit.com/new/contest/ifbb-pro-league-npc-worldwide-ben-weider-naturals-pro-am/ 2023 IFBB Pro League NPC Worldwide Ben Weider Naturals PRO / AM]
9. [https://www.rbimba.lt/faktai/1975congress.html 1975 MR. UNIVERSE and IFBB CONGRESS]
10. [http://www.billdobbins.com/PUBLIC/pages/coolfree/promoters/wayneQA.html THE MS. OLYMPIA IN LAS VEGAS: HOW IT HAPPENED AND WHY]
11. [https://www.rbimba.lt/faktai/congress2004.htm IFBB INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS MEETING 2004]
12. [https://www.rbimba.lt/faktai/congress2005.htm IFBB INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS 2005]
13. [https://www.ifbbpro.com/international-regional-and-pro-qualifier-rules/ International Regional and Pro Qualifier RULES]
14. [https://www.ifbbpro.com/2023-olympia-qualification-system-rules/ 2023 Olympia Qualification System Rules]