Suspended Petterson-Griffith upset over missing World’s

Carlos Petterson-Griffith
Carlos Petterson-Griffith

Powerlifters, Carlos Petterson-Griffith and Junica Pluck have been suspended for a period of 12 months after failing to notify the Executive Members of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) that they would have been competing at the Barbados StrongFit competition held earlier this month.

This is according to a release sent out to the media by Public Relations Officer of the federation, Runita White.

The decision to suspend Petterson-Griffith comes just three days before the start of the World Classic Powerlifting Championships in Sweden. Petterson-Griffith told this publication yesterday that he has gone through a grueling six-month training regimen for the event and he feels victimized by the decision of the federation.

To add insult to injury, the decorated Strong Man said he learnt of his suspension through social media instead of an official communique from the federation.

In the email sent to the media by White, it states the following:

“The Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) has made the decision not to support Carlos Petterson-Griffith trip to Worlds in Sweden, since he competed at the event without the expressed permission of the GAPLF. 

Petterson-Griffith will not be competing at the upcoming Worlds competition in June, 2019 or any other IPF sanctioned events for a period of 12 months (May 5th, 2019 to May 5th, 2020). Pluck also faces the same penalty as Petterson-Griffith.

Petterson-Griffith has stated that he has not received any funding from the federation and has been able to garner his own funding through sponsors.

Regardless, for him to compete in Sweden, he would have to get the official green light from the local affiliate of the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF), the GAPLF.

 The release also stated that “In Article 14.9 of the IPF Constitution it states, “Participating in Non-IPF Competition Any lifter, coach, referee or official who competes or participates in an international powerlifting or Bench Press competition not organised, sanctioned or approved by the IPF shall not be permitted to take part in any IPF international or regional competition for a period of 12 months from the date of that non-approved competition.” 

Alongside that the GAPLF’s constitution states in Section 12, Article 1, point 4 “The stated reasons for suspension are not a closed list and the Executive members shall collectively exercise their discretion when opting to suspend a member of the GAPLF. 

The following may be subject to Suspension:

4. Any lifter, who participates in a contest with other countries without the permission of the GAPLF.”

The release further stated that both athletes did not inform the federation that they were going to participate in the event. If the federation was made aware they would have been able to let them know that Barbados is not an affiliate of the IPF and as such the event they competed in, is not sanctioned by the IPF. 

However, Petterson-Griffith contends that he was unaware he had to inform the federation that he was going to be competing in Barbados because he opined it was not a powerlifting meet as it was a two-day competition which included seven events inclusive of the three powerlifting lifts.

White however disclosed that once all three powerlifting lifts, (the squat, deadlift and bench press) are part of a competition that is not sanctioned by the IPF, the athlete or official will be sanctioned according to the constitution.

“All three lifts were included and that is how the issue occurred” said White.

White then disclosed that Pluck and Petterson-Griffith would have received their official letters outlining the reason for their suspension some time yesterday.

Calls to President of the federation, Ed Caesar for a comment went unanswered.