Page 133 - BOOK OF THE YEAR 23-24

2023 IFBB INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS

Our sports have been included in 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games (El Salvador), 2023 Pan-Arab
Games (Algeria) and 2022 South American Games (Paraguay).
In reference to the withdrawal of the status of the World Anti-Doping Code compliant, President Santonja
explained the huge work the IFBB is doing to restore its ‘in compliance’ status. The main measures to be taken
by the IFBB to achieve this goal, are related to the increase of the financial resources and the redistribution of
Anti-Doping Tests. Acting in this direction, IFBB established the Anti-Doping Fee of EUR €20 to be paid by all
athletes participating in all World and Continental Championships.
The IFBB and the IFBB Anti-Doping Commission are working closely with the World Anti-Doping Agency,
coordinating these measures with the firm goal of regain this status as soon as possible.
According to the Financial Report approved by the Congress, IFBB financial situation has been improving year
by year, after some difficulties connected with the COVID-19 Pandemic and decrease in the international sport
activity. There are three main areas of income in the IFBB: registration fees from international competitions,
courses and Academy and sponsorship. In all these areas IFBB incomes are rising fast.
In 2022 IFBB re-established the prize money distribution for the top World Tour Ranking athletes and this
payments are continued. The Ranking Rules have been slightly modified in 2023 and new divisions have been
added: juniors and masters as well as Fitness Challenge. There are 3 levels of the Ranking events, with three
scales of awarded points. The top group of the events (Level 3) includes Arnold Classic Europe, Mr. Universe and
Mr. World.
Also most of the promoters of the IFBB international events are working hard to increase the prize money at
their competition. The best examples are the IFBB events organized in the United Arab Emirates, where the
prize money usually reaches tens of thousands of US Dollars, with 150,000 USD offered at the 2024 Binous
Classic in Dubai!
The most important IFBB new sport initiative is the introduction of the Fitness Challenge division, with its
newest branch – Speed Fit, which is promoted as “the new era of fitness”. This new modality doesn’t include
body and muscle quality assessment but how many reps are performed in a given period of time in 6 stations
(Fitness Challenge) or who perform required number of reps in the shortest time (Speed Fit). The expected
direction of development of this division is organization of National Leagues, then Continental and World
Leagues. That sounds great!
Very exciting moment at the Congress is, as always, official announcement of the next year top international
events location:

• World Bodybuilding Championships (including Men Juniors & Masters) - Iran
• World Fitness Championships (including Women Juniors & Masters) - Japan
• World Fit-Model Championships – Lithuania (Kedainiai)
• World Children Fitness Championships – Serbia (Cacak)
• Arnold Classic Europe – Spain (Madrid)
• Mr. & Ms. World – United Arab Emirates (Fujairah).

New interesting positions in the IFBB Calendar are: IFBB World Fitness Games (Spain), Miss Fit-Model Europe
(Spain), IFBB Fitness Challenge President Cup (Georgia), President Santonja World Cup (Lebanon), IFBB Asian
Cup (Uzbekistan), Binous Classic Championships (UAE), IFBB Intercontinental Cup (Montenegro), Noche de
Campeones (Argentina), IFBB Gulf Championships (Saudi Arabia).
And we can see the real explosion of the IFBB Mr. Universe organizers! As many as 17 countries want to host
this event in 2024!
Later on, during the year, the IFBB Calendar of Events expanded up to 96 events!
Very interesting part of the President’s Report is a specification covering Dr. Santonja’s dozens of international
trips and meetings with the top world sport and political authorities, including Heads of the States, Crown
Princesses, Ministers, IOC Executives and NOC Presidents. For example, in 2023 President Santonja had
meetings with Presidents of Albania, Mongolia and North Macedonia, IOC Vice-President, Crown Prince of
Fujairah, Sport Ministers from Iran, Lebanon and Serbia, Presidents of the Pan-American Sport Organization,
South American Sport Organization, Centro Caribe Sports, Bolivarian Sports Organization and AIPS.
Traditionally, at the end of the Congress, IFBB Committees and National Federations proposals were
discussed. The most important Congress decisions are as follows:

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