There’s always something crazy going on in this industry. At any moment, there’s a maniac in a weight room taking a dangerous lift and a shady businessman in an office finding a way to turn dirty profits. The posts you find here in my log are the musings of a mashed-up meathead — the reactions I have as I spend my whole life watching this industry. I will share my thoughts with you here, unedited, uncensored, unfiltered, and Under The Bar. If you are offended by profanity - do not read this.

 

Hey Ed.

Don't worry Man! There are far more Puppies in the  world that need trained than people from "that" federation.  #dogwhisperer #bullstrong #buildadog #givethedogabone

ed-coan_2979

This is a post I made on my Facebook wall HERE    <-- This link should work, as all my posts are public.

I wanted to re-post it here so I could add in some other notations and comments that were made in the thread.

My post was made in regards to this image post.

Screen Shot 2016-01-21 at 3.25.00 PM

This later popped up on the thread as the original post.

ORIPF

Direct Link to this press release as it is now.

Some Key Items of Notation:

* This is a public post
* Ed is not on the WADA list
* WPC is listed as being the host of these seminars
* Ed is noted by name as having a lifetime suspension
* They write "as everyone knows"
* IPF Anti Doping rules are noted
* If IPF lifters attends seminar actions will be taken.
* No note of who the "executive committee" is

As  you will read below, my frustrations with this are not with the "rules." They are what they are. My issue is that a sports federation should not be allowed to have so much power that they can make posts intended to hurt a person's name and source of income. Maybe this is just poor PR or malicious intent but I can say with certain if any business (small or large) did the same thing, they would be sitting on cease and desist letters, take down notices files, and legal representation hired against them.

What gives a sports federation rights we as individuals do not have? Should they not be held to a higher standard?

As a business owner I've made mistakes, many of them. You live through them, deal with the consequences and learn from them to grown and become better in the future. Many times it takes people calling you out to see your actions could have been handled better. I personally appreciate this and work to make the necessary changes when needed. This is simply what I am doing here.

ed-coan_3240

My Post:

I'm sorry, I rarely post negative shit as I feel my time is better allocated to posting content that is educational and fun...but I just saw this and it's complete and total bullshit!

Look, I get Ed Coan has a lifetime ban but to NOT allow - no, it's not even that - to penalize lifters, coaches and promoters who SUPPORT the federation because they want to learn from one of the best lifters who ever lived is horse shit.

From what I'm reading, these seminars are not at IPF meets or functions, so how in the hell can a governing "powerlifting" body say who can or can't host an event that has nothing to do with their federation? This is directly impacting Ed Coan's ability to give back to the sport and his ability to earn income.

The ban came in what, 1985? Thirty years ago! You have to be shitting me.

All this shit aside, I have seen Ed Coan coach many times and he is VERY good at it. There are only a handful of people I would say that about. To withhold this coaching and knowledge from lifters over something that happened 30 years ago (and was controversial at the time) is unbelievable to me.

To Restate: Set aside the all time World Records, his time in the sport, all the meets he has helped at, the thousands if not hundreds of thousands of lifters he's inspired, all the emails, phone calls and help he has provided (for free)...I have seen almost every top coach in the world of powerlifting coach at some point. Not all, but most. Ed is without a doubt one of the very best COACHES of the sport. Watch any of his videos online (if you're allowed to) and you will see what I mean.

There isn't much that surprises me anymore with this sport but this issue just did.

This is a SEMINAR, not a meet! God forbid an IPF lifter ends up in the same restaurant with Ed and asks him a few training questions and pays for his dinner as a thank you. How is that any different?

ed-coan_3235

Reply and Thoughts

Here are some of the responses — only first names are used.

Allan - Perhaps I should have gone to Spec Savers but I cant see Ed Coan on here? Unfortunately that was the WADA list which does not include ED the IPF have this list HERE.

Hedge - The same thing happened in Norway a few years ago and the people who organized the seminars were threatened to the point that they backed out in fear that it would ruin their livelihood. This has nothing to do with the IPF. Apparently the IPF feel that it is up to them to decide how Ed can make a living 20 years later. This is nothing more than a personal vendetta!

Me (Dave) - I wrote this several times when the thread would move toward drugs, The WADA, etc.

You're slightly missing what I'm saying. The IPF didn't have to use Ed's name to make their point known. This wasn't WADA who wrote the notices, it was the IPF. It was their call to use his name and drag it through the mud and hurt his business reputation over something 30 years ago. From what I read in the letter, it said these were seminars were hosted with the WPC (not sure of exact words as I'm replying from my phone). That is all that was needed to let IPF members know not to go. The rule is the rule. While we can agree it is unfair, it is still their rule and noted as such. My issue isn't informing the rule but in calling Ed out by name in an attempt to hurt his business over something 30 years ago that is still debated by veterans in the sport today.

Andrew - In 1989, as BAWLA lifters in England (the then IPF affiliate) we were told we could not attend the WPC worlds in Stone even as spectators, and if we were caught in photographs we would be suspended. The IPF and their affiliates have always been bananas. Of course everyone went anyway, but it was ridiculous. Walking around in hats and sunglasses inside the venue like idiots. Good times. Which junior lifter of that era was going to turn down the chance to meet Buddy Duke, Mary Jeffreys, Ed Coan (who was spectating also), Gerrit Badenhorst, Curtis Leslie, etc? Not a chance.

Peter - I have heard of people enrolling in an IPF referee course who were contacted regarding their previous positive online statements regarding Mr. Coen and told that they would not be able to do the referee course for that reason...or they could recant.

Blair - How many articles has he written? How many videos has he been in talking about these same topics? How do they expect to be able to control the information their lifters are exposed to in the modern age?

Yarosiav - There's a rule in the WADA rule book stating associating with banned athletes is grounds for punishment. The IPF is under hard scrutiny for their adherence to WADAs rules. This isnt something they've invented. The same rule could be applied to any other sport.

Cameron - Ultimately I think it's just the IPF trying to make a statement about how strongly they feel against PED's.

30 years ago, Coan was using PED's. despite being THE best pound for pound powerlifter in the world — at the time they wanted nothing to do with him because of his drug use.

Fast forward to today. The IPF needs to honor their decision to ban him. It's undebatable he is the GOAT, yet also undebatable he used drugs to get to that level.

The IPF doesn't want to even slightly promote that, or look dumb by recognizing his greatness.

Nothing against Eddie, the IPF just has its rules.

Kaitlin - Does it go so far to say that if IPF/USAPL athletes trained along side people who WOULD be banned, (i.e. anabolic users), is also looked down upon? Or is it just because Ed is banned?

Judas - ALL banned IPF lifters. Even if your SON fails his test and you both compete IPF, you can no longer train together.

Stephen - The 2015 World Anti-Doping Code recognizes the fact that athletes who want to cheat don’t typically do it alone. To help protect athletes from people who would use their position of power or influence to prey on them, the 2015 Code will prohibit athletes from associating with coaches, trainers, physicians, or other athlete support personnel who are sanctioned and/or criminally convicted of doping. Some examples of assistance include obtaining training, nutrition, or medical advice, and/or allowing the individual to serve as an agent or representative.

I think they have institutionally supported doping in mind. Pushing the interpretation to construe attending a public seminar as "association" or who you train with in a public gym or engaging individual professionals in the health or sports industry kind of seems overkill to me, in my humble opinion.

Steve -  This just seems hypocritical and vindictive. IPF holds a MAJOR event at the Arnold; so do you have to plug your ears when Arnold speaks since he's admitted to drug use? If simply listening to Ed Coan disqualifies you, what would shaking hands with an IFBB pro at the Arnold do? Ed Coan is the greatest deadlifter of all time, and to try and completely cut off such a brilliant mind from those seeking his help is beyond petty. These are athletes in their free time. Can they not watch videos of him either? It's a very slippery slope and shouldn't be given a chance to germinate.

ed-coan_2684

Many comments noted things like "screw the IPF — don't compete there. 

My reply to those comments - This isn't about leaving the IPF or not competing there. Everyone gets that. This is about a governing sports federation making a very public statement about an individual conducting a seminar not related to the IPF in any way, and as I read it, noted it was a non-IPF event. This statement named Ed by name and brought up his lifetime ban 30 years after the fact. This hurts the speaker's credibility and can be seen as an attempt to make these events fail. These seminars were not targeted to any specific federation lifters and if they were it was the WPC not IPF lifters. Meanwhile the IPF throws this out why? Because their lifters don't know the rules? Or to take another shot at Ed and destroy a seminar business he's been busting his ass to build? People bitch online about fake Internet coaches and here is the real deal and the IPF is trying to take him out and destroy his business. If I did this to any former employee of mine my ass would be sued quicker than shit and I'd lose. Why does a sports federation not have to abide by the same rules as any small business or corporation? Is it right that they get to play by a different set of rules? My point is that this isn't just about not lifting in the IPF or Seminars - not at all.

Judas -  I'm gonna go big picture here instead of going into another rant about a fed that tells lifters what kind of underwear they can wear and how to wear their hair...


The problem is that there is no other SINGULAR LEGITIMATE fed out there for all these insulted, oppressed, and frankly abused IPF lifters to go to. Hard to 'vote with your dollar' when there is no one else to vote for. I'll give the IPF one thing...they run a clean show...and i'm NOT talking about drugs. They hold to strict standards beginning to end. If there was another fed that cared as much about standards and not seeing their name in PLWatch world records lists, we might have a solid alternative for lifters with some self-respect to flock to. I would hope that this bullshit move would backlash hard on them, and maybe finally break that camels' back, but IPF members have for the most part proven that they will continue to take the abuse and rationalize supporting in this fascist federation.

Again, rather than attack, I'd much rather direct efforts to creating that one great alternative fed so IPF lifters can finally have some place GOOD to go.

ed-coan_3267

 

Micke -   It's not about the IPF. It's about the World Anti Doping Agency. They set the rules. All sports that adhere to their rules, i.e. sports without cheating, do this. It's very clearly stated in the 2015 version of the WADA code, Section 2.10: Prohibited association.

Since many of you don't understand without spelling it out explicitly. the reason for sanctions against banned athletes (any sport) is so that they can't continue to do work in their sport with anyone that is doping-free. Because if someone cheats, but are still allowed to work or compete with other lifters in the sport they're banned from, the ban has no effect! If you, on the other hand, think that's a silly rule, then by extension, you also don't care about cheating.
Which is your choice and you're free to think what you want. But don't come complaining when a cheat steals your medal...
Me (Dave) - The IPF is the agency that noted Ed by name in a public post in an attempt to impact his income. Notice in the statement it said it was a WPC event - that alone is cause for suspension. They could have made the exact same point without dragging Ed's name and business through the mud over something 30 years ago. If any business did this same thing to a past employee they fired, there would be hell to pay. Why should the IPF be allowed a different standard that others business who operate around the world? This is the biggest point I'm trying to make. Chalk it up as shitty PR but it is a source of income for him.
Herbert - I like the part where everyone seems to paint this as an arbitrary rule made up by the mean old IPF, when this is the standard put in place by the WADA, which the IPF is required to uphold.
Me (Dave) - Uphold, yes. Smear someone in the mud and hurt their income stream, no. The IPF chose to call Ed out by name when it wasn't necessary to do so. It was noted as a WPC event, right? This alone is cause for suspension. They also could have noted the same thing without the use of his name. This was close to 30 years ago. The WADA didn't tell them to call the man out by name. They did that on their own — meanwhile NOT listing the names of those who wrote it. My point was about using Ed's name and intentionally hurting his business on a public forum. This rule doesn't change that ethical issue unless there is also a rule that says they must do it this way and all those tested signed and agreed to it.
* NOTE: We respectfully agreed to disagree on this as we see each other points but don't agree.  See, Facebook doesn't have to be a pissing match.
Sarah -  I just did some googling: "“Association” includes getting training advice, discussing competition strategy or technique and/or obtaining medical advice from a person who has previously been sanctioned for doping.6 An athlete charged with a prohibited association has the burden to establish that the association is not in a professional or sport related capacity." http://www.globalsportsadvocates.com/a-short-guide-to.../

When it's all said and done...

Take THAT and his Yellow singlet to go with it.

 

 

Seminar Info...

Disclosure: Dave Tate nor Elitefts.com Inc receive nothing from the placement of this event. This is not a paid ad and noting has been traded for it's placement. We are placing this for all those who may want to go but don't know how or who to contact. All we have is this banner ad for info. If and when we get more we will place it.

IMG_3253