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wlewisj and Marcus Wild, question about your federation.

Mon, 03/22/2010 - 11:51pm — Charles Izzo

Hey guys,
I just wanted to ask you about your federation. Because I was looking on the records on the UPA website and I noticed your names in the UPA-AD section. I wasn't sure what it meant. My friend told me it meant amateur division and that amateur meant it was drug tested.

I don't even understand why they would make it that way. A lot of people who are drug free lift in the regular division.

Anyways, you know how when you go to a contest you tell them which class you will be in? Well can you do that with amateur division or regular? Or does it have to be in a completely different contest?

I was just wondering. I kind of want to try some raw meets. And I was thinking of just competing in the UPA raw division because I already competed in the UPA and most of my friends compete in the UPA. The only difference is I'd be switching to raw instead of gear.

I'm not even sure it would matter if I do regular or AD because a lot of drug free lifters compete in regular anyways. And in the drug tested federations you always have cheaters. I have no problem with those who choose to use if and only if its in a non tested federation or meet, but it really sucks that people still do it in tested federations and meets and I do consider that cheating.

Funny thing is when I looked at the UPA raw records I didn't see anything too special, unless maybe they cleared the numbers recently. Because I know guys who are much stronger than the numbers I saw. Its probably because most people who compete in the UPA do it with gear and have no interest in competing raw. They can do it and do very well, but they don't want to.

But anyways, I looked at the records in the 100% raw federation and they are a lot better. Marcus, remember asking about that? The records are on the site. And with the numbers I have seen I honestly have a hard time believing that they are all natural. I don't want to say its impossible, but its definitely hard to believe. The numbers are freaky!

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Tue, 03/23/2010 - 1:01pm — MarcusWild

Most local meet directors

Most local meet directors only offer UPA. They don't want the hassle of drug testing for the AD. I did that at UPA nationals. I would have just lifted open, but I didn't hit a high enough qualifying total back then.

I don't think very many people have lifted raw in the UPA. They've only been offering it for about a year.

www.wildirongym.com
www.tinyurl.com/WildIron

Tue, 03/23/2010 - 8:50pm — wlewisj
wlewisj's picture

The AD is for the tested

The AD is for the tested division. The former SC state chair did drug testing at her meets so I always go in the tested division if it is offered. Testing is a joke but if it is offered then I want to be tested to prove that I am drug-free. Yes there will always be cheaters but I compete to beat my personal record - not the other competitors. The raw division is very new for the UPA. Also, the UPA is fairly new as well so most of their records are open. I only lift in that fed as they have meets locally for me and I like the director. You may want to check out the WNPF. They have a raw division, they test, and I think they have meets in your area - NY, NJ, PA.

Willis Lewis, Jr.
"The man that dreams success is already successful"

Tue, 03/23/2010 - 9:55pm — Charles Izzo

I guess it doesn't matter as

I guess it doesn't matter as long as I can compete with myself. I took a break and finally started training heavier again. I've got to get a contest in somewhere so I can start having some official recorded numbers I can work on improving on. I think I'd prefer to do a push/pull meet or a full meet. I honestly wouldn't mind trying a full meet in the UPA if one comes up near by soon. Plus I like the UPA meets because a lot of my friends will be there.

I think a full meet would be good for me. I've slacked enough on my squat and deadlift over the last few years when I was specializing in the bench press. I wouldn't mind doing a push/pull meet either; let that be in a different federation or even a non sanctioned meet just for fun.

And yeah, I think I totally agree with you about the testing being a joke. Someone could have even done it before, made a lot of gains off it, and then show up clean for a drug test. And I also hear they don't really test for things such as insulin. So I figure what is the point in lifting in a drug tested federation if you're still going to have cheaters. At least if its in a non tested federation I don't consider them cheaters anymore; its just the fact that you have the choice if you want to or not. Many choose not to and still do great.

Other cool thing about the UPA is the if I do UPA raw the records are lower right now. If I can't do best in the UPA raw then I can't do it anywhere else. I figure its just a good place to start. I know the winners attitude. Anyone can do anything, if they want to and if they are willing to put in the hard work.