IFBB Pro Leagues New Active Competitor Rules Spark Widespread Controversy

On January 19, 2025, the IFBB made an announcement designed to reshape the competitive landscape for many years to come. With the global popularity of bodybuilding increasing, the new rules are designed to elevate competition standards and improve active participation. 

Athletes who have earned their pro cards but don’t maintain their active membership will have their IFBB pro status revoked. What’s more, they will have to re-qualify if they want to add “IFBB PRO” to their names. They will need to undergo a new pro-qualifier event for the opportunity to get a new pro card. 

Their latest announcement marks a bold effort to address inactive athletes who earned their status but haven’t competed for years. If an athlete chooses not to renew, they can remain inactive for up to three years before it’s removed.

What Are The New Rules? 

Effective January 19, 2025, the new rules are designed to enhance dynamic competition between athletes and improve the competitive landscape. The primary focus is on ensuring that being an IFBB pro reflects a high quality of excellence within the sport.

According to the new rules, active members who don’t renew their membership will automatically become inactive for three years. During this period, both active and inactive members must still strictly adhere to the IFBB Pro League rules and policies.

Here’s a snippet taken from the pro rules section of the IFBBs website:

“An Active member who chooses not to renew their membership automatically becomes an Inactive member and may remain Inactive for up to three years. Active and Inactive members must abide by IFBB Professional League rules and policies.”

This means that competitors holding a pro card before 2023 have until December 31, 2025, to reinstate their status. Failing this, their pro status will be removed.

“Athletes who have held IFBB Pro status before 2023 and who have not renewed their membership have until December 31, 2025 to become active members; otherwise their IFBB Pro status will be canceled and can only be reestablished through a pro qualifier”

It’s important to note that being inactive applies to being a pro by not renewing the annual membership fee. It does not refer to competitors who are stepping on stage. 

Once inactive, an ex-pro must win an NPC, NPC worldwide, or amateur Olympia qualifier to return to the pro ranks. 

“If a member is not Active within the three-year period, their IFBB Pro status will be canceled and can only be reestablished through a pro qualifier.”

Ideas And Thoughts Behind The New Rules 

The IFBB has undergone some drastic changes at the start of the year. After promising not to add another pro division, the introduction of the fit model category has sparked widespread debate. The new category will feature in the NPC from 2025 before being introduced to the IFBB sometime in 2026.  

However, the new league is expected to generate renewed interest over the next few years. It represents an effort to be more inclusive and adaptable to the current landscape. The addition of the new category should hopefully attract a more diverse range of competitors and elevate global interest. 

The new rule regarding pro status is designed to foster accountability and improve active participation. Now that it’s in place, current and future competitors must rethink their competitive schedules. Retaining their pro status requires a new commitment and shared effort to grow the sport. 

Lee Priest, a retired IFBB PRO bodybuilder who has won numerous titles had this to say:

“The IFBB is to blame for your thing with the pro cards. They opened up the floodgates, giving them out to everyone like candy. They’re trying to put it back in the barn. It’s the IFBB’s fault, not the athletes.”

To me, it seems like the IFBB is trying to recreate and refresh the competitive landscape. The status of having a pro card is not what it once was. The competition quality has been slowly decreasing as more people earn a pro card while previous pros remain inactive. 

By bringing in these rules, the IFBB wants to show that earning a pro card isn’t something to take lightly. It should be something to symbolize your status as an active pro and role model for the league. It should not just be a symbol in front of your name to better market yourself to the masses. 

it does show that the IFBB has made some mistakes. However, it should hopefully mark a step in the right direction to improve the competitive landscape. 

In a recent episode of the Cutlet Cast, four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler also shared his thoughts:

“The issue I see, and this is the complaint from a lot of people, is yes, the IFBB Pro status, it doesn’t carry the weight it once carried.”

Further Rule Announcements And Possible Implications

Following the announcement, there was widespread confusion regarding certain implications and meanings of the new rules.

Retired Pros

Many people wondered what this meant for retired athletes wanting to make a comeback on the competitive stage. Would these new rules mean that they also would need to reality to earn their pro card back? 

After the initial controversy, the IFBB and NPC provided some rule clarifications.

“IFBB PRO athletes who held IFBB PRO status before January 1, 2024 but who are inactive may remain inactive without the loss of their IFBB PRO status. When they become an active member, they will be subject to the “three-year rule”. 

What this means is that all athletes who are inactive before January 1, 2024, are exempt from the new rule. Athletes who have held pro status before January 1, 2024, and become inactive will not lose their pro status. However, retired athletes who want to step on stage would then need to stay active within the three-year period. 

Rules For New Pros 

New pros who have earned their status via a pro qualifier have one year from the date they became pro. This means that they need to register with the IFBB and become active within that time. If this is not fulfilled, the pro will no longer hold a pro card and return to the amateur competitions. 

Pro Show Contract Deadlines

In another section of the new rules, the IFBB went on to clarify points regarding pro show entries. 

“No changes will be made to any competitor list information or contest data after the contract application deadline”.

This means that pro show contract applications need to be submitted by 3 pm EST on Monday before each show. Any applications following this will not be accepted.

Conclusion

The 2025 calendar begins on February 22, 2025, at the Musclecontest Japan Pro with the Women’s Bikini division. Following this, arguably one of the biggest events of the year, the 2025 Arnold Classic takes place. 

With the new rules coming into place, competitors from all divisions will try to adapt as they begin their season. 

What do you think of the new rules? Do they help the competitive landscape or are they designed for trouble? Let us know your thoughts!

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