IFSC explains why they sent out BMI notifications

During the world championship in Gijon, IFSC measured the length and weight of all athletes to calculate the BMI. Last month, IFSC did send out a notification to all male below BMI 17 and female below BMI 18 as well as to their federations. In order to get the IFSC competition license 2015, the athletes and the federations need to return the letter including a signature from a doctor in charge. Already five years ago, 8a proposed that IFSC should start follow up the athletes health based on BMI tests and previously Sweden and Austria are using the same BMI figures. We asked IFSC to get some info of their BMI notifications and here is what they answered. "In accordance with the IOC, the IFSC encourages and supports the “achievement and maintenance of an ideal body weight and physique” of the Athletes. Therefore, the IFSC Medical Commission has been monitoring the athletes’ health since many years, in close cooperation of the IFSC Athletes’ Commission. Over almost a decade, tests have been run, at the international and national level, in and out of competition. Gijon was just the last episode of this long process, still running. Studies have been conducted as well over the years, in cooperation with NFs and individual doctors. BMI measurement is one of the tools used and parameters have been adapted to the climbing scenario, as a result of this work. On the basis of the collected data, the IFSC is working with National Federations in order to protect the athletes’ health. However, this is a work in progress that has many implications that cannot be ignored, firstly individual privacy, and is part of a wider action leading to a better “knowledge and practice of sport nutrition” for Athletes, coaches and NFs."