Why athletes care
Under anti-doping rules, an athlete is responsible for any prohibited substance found in their sample, even if it came from a contaminated supplement. Contamination can happen through shared equipment or raw materials. Batch-testing programmes reduce that risk, and many sports bodies tell athletes to use only tested products.
Informed Sport
Informed Sport, run by LGC, tests every batch of a certified product for substances on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list before it is released, and reviews the manufacturer’s quality systems. Each batch tested is listed on the Informed Sport website, so athletes can search by product and batch number. The programme also buys products from shops to test blind.
Informed Choice
Informed Choice is the sister programme for the wider fitness market. It tests products regularly by sampling rather than testing every batch, so it’s generally seen as less demanding than Informed Sport. Elite athletes are usually advised to look for the Informed Sport mark.
Using the logo on your label
- You can only use the logo once the product is certified, and the labels must be approved before use.
- Follow the brand guidelines for size, colour and position.
- Print the batch number clearly; athletes use it to look up the result.
- If the product loses certification, or a flavour isn’t certified, the logo has to come off.
Claims to avoid
- “WADA approved”: WADA doesn’t approve products.
- “100% banned-substance free”: testing reduces risk; it can’t guarantee zero.
- “Safe for drug-tested athletes” without certification behind it.
You can accurately say the batch was tested under the programme. Performance claims still have to follow the health claims rules: creatine, for example, has authorised wording about physical performance in short-term, high-intensity exercise, with conditions.
Planning the label
Sports labels often carry a logo strip, a batch number window and a QR code to the test result. Plan the space at design stage. See sports nutrition labels and supplement logos and certification marks.
Not legal advice. This guide covers the general rules for food supplements sold in Great Britain. Check your own product with a regulatory adviser, your local Trading Standards team or your Primary Authority partner.