July 11 was an incredible day in powerlifting. In an Aurora, Illonois meet dozens of records were broken, including by well-known and highly-decorated lifters such as Eric Lilliebridge.
After footage of many lifts from the meet became available online, an outcry over perceived lack of judging standards and alleged illegitimacy of weigh-ins (the origin of this theory remains unknown), quickly developed. It became so serious that many Instagram videos, such as Lilliebridge's, were flooded with comments arguing the legitimacy of lifts. Other well-known lifters publicly denounced the meet.
As with all lifting meets, the opinions that determine the difference between a passing lift and a failed attempt are those of the three judges. Everything else stays as clatter in the background. Or at least it usually does.
Not the case with this particular IPA meet. Seemingly in response to the mass of online objection to the meet, Mark Chaillet, IPA Chairman and CEO, posted a public announcement on Facebook today, revoking all records and claiming that the IPA was never part of the meet.
At the core of Chaillet's public statement is the claim that Corey Miceli, the former Illinois State Chariman, failed to have the July 11 meet certified. This would would essentially exonerate Chaillet and the IPA, making Miceli responsible for the meet and any possible wrongdoing.
This may seem like a plausible answer to the situation, given that no promotional material for the July 11 meet can be found on the IPA page or Chaillet's personal page (there was, however, an unrelated IPA meet July 11 in Pennsylvania).
Miceli fired back, however, posting on Facebook multiple times and including screenshots of a text message conversation that appears to have been with Chaillet.
Miceli continued to deny Chaillet's claims, following up his initial defense with an image of what he claims is proof of payment to the IPA for sanctioning of the July 11 meet.
Chaillet and the IPA have been silent since Miceli's posts. More information will be shared here as the situation unfolds.
If you have any additional information about the meet in question, please contact jordanh@elitefts.net