As the awareness and usage of different nutritional supplements is growing in India so is the
It is quite disturbing to know that as per statistics assessed by the Times of India (TOI), in 2019 NADA’s anti-doping disciplinary panel (ADDP) handed out a record number of punishments to 147 athletes for having performance-enhancing drugs, which all-time high figure since the inception of NADA in 2005.
• Raw Materials
• Poor Manufacturing Practices
• Cross Contamination
• Labelling and Packaging Gimmick
Additionally, few supplements use herbal ingredients that have either poor quality control or have compounds that are naturally present that may be prohibited in sports. There is a high chance that trace levels of contamination end up in genuinely legitimate supplements. Athletes are tested at levels as low as parts per billion, contamination may result in a positive drug test which will have a significant and negative impact on their careers.
"Informed-Sport Certified" refers to a certification program for sports supplements and nutritional products. This certification is provided by the organization Informed-Sport, which is a global quality assurance program for sports nutrition products. The Informed-Sport program aims to ensure that athletes and consumers can trust the safety and quality of the supplements they use.
When a product is "Informed-Sport Certified," it means that it has undergone rigorous testing for banned substances by LGC’s world-class sports anti-doping lab. The certification process involves analyzing the product for a wide range of substances prohibited in sports by various anti-doping agencies like the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). This testing helps to verify that the product is free from these prohibited substances and is less likely to pose a risk to athletes in terms of inadvertent doping violations.
Athletes and sports organizations often look for the Informed-Sport certification as a mark of quality and safety when choosing nutritional supplements to avoid unintentional doping issues and to ensure that the products they use meet high standards.
• Anti-Doping Compliance: Informed-Sport certification ensures that sports supplements and nutritional products have been tested for banned substances by an accredited third-party laboratory. This is crucial for athletes who are bound by anti-doping rules and regulations. Using certified products reduces the risk of inadvertently consuming prohibited substances that could lead to doping violations.
• Risk Mitigation: In the absence of certified products, athletes may face uncertainty regarding the content of the supplements they consume. Informed-Sport certification mitigates the risk of inadvertent doping by providing a reliable testing and certification process, helping athletes make safer choices.
• Meeting Regulatory Standards: In some sports organizations, using certified products may be a requirement to participate in competitions. Informed-Sport certification ensures that products comply with strict anti-doping standards, allowing athletes to meet regulatory requirements and compete at the highest levels.
Established in 2007, the Informed Choice program is a worldwide initiative focused on ensuring the quality of products by minimizing the potential presence of impurities and banned substances. Any product featuring the Informed Choice logo or on-pack description signifies that it has undergone thorough examinations and tests.
This certification is crucial for individuals engaged in physical activity as it allows them to be aware of the contents of their supplements, safeguarding their health. For supplement brands, the risk of contamination could not only damage their reputation but also result in legal consequences.
The primary difference between Informed Choice and Informed Sport lies in the frequency of testing conducted. With Informed-Sport certification, each batch of a product undergoes testing before being introduced to the market. Testing is done right from raw materials to the final products Additionally, post-certification involves periodic blind testing, wherein products are purchased from retail outlets and subjected to further testing, enhancing overall assurance of product quality.
Informed Choice testing involves monthly blind sampling. The laboratory team at LGC randomly acquires a product sample from retail sources, including both physical stores and online platforms, for testing. Each month, at least one batch or lot of the product undergoes testing as part of this routine.
FAQs
1. What is the difference between NSF and Informed Sport?
NSF Certified for Sport and Informed-Sport are both third-party certification programs for sports supplements. While NSF focuses on product safety, quality, and label accuracy, Informed-Sport specifically addresses anti-doping concerns by testing for banned substances. Athletes may choose based on their priorities: overall quality assurance or anti-doping measures.
2. What is NSE Sport certification?
NSF’s Certified for Sport® is the only independent third-party certification program recognized by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Football League (NFL), and many other professional and amateur sports associations.
3. Is informed choice trustworthy?
Informed Choice is considered trustworthy as it is a global quality assurance program that tests products for impurities and banned substances.
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