Informed Sport & BSCG Certification for Athletes (2026)
Informed Sport (LGC Assure, UKAD-aligned) and BSCG Drug-Free certification programs explained. Batch-level testing, how to verify a lot number, and why batch certification status changes.
Informed Sport (LGC Assure) Strong evidence
Informed Sport is the dietary-supplement and personal-care certification program operated by LGC Assure, a UK-based testing organization. The program performs batch-level testing for substances on the WADA Prohibited List and is aligned with UK Anti-Doping (UKAD). Every certified batch is screened independently before release, which is the operational distinction between Informed Sport and certifications that test the product line periodically rather than every lot. The searchable database lives at sport.wetestyoutrust.com.
Informed Sport's batch model is particularly well-suited to consumable products with frequent reformulation and to brands that produce smaller batches. It is widely used in UK and European sport and is accepted by many athlete-medical staff in the U.S. as a legitimate alternative to NSF Certified for Sport. USADA explicitly recognizes only NSF Certified for Sport for U.S. Olympic-pipeline purposes, but Informed Sport remains a legitimate option in many league frameworks.
Athlete-Targeted CBD Brands with Informed Sport Batch Certificates
Athlete-targeted CBD brands that have carried Informed Sport batch certificates include Mendi, Caliper Foods, and Beam, among others. Important caveat: batch certification status changes. A brand can hold Informed Sport certification on one batch and not on the next; a brand can leave the program; a brand can launch a new SKU that is not certified even though older SKUs are. Always verify the specific lot number on the LGC Assure database before purchase, not the brand's marketing.
BSCG (Banned Substances Control Group)
BSCG (Banned Substances Control Group) offers a Drug-Free certification tied to the WADA Prohibited List and league-specific lists. BSCG's certification covers several hundred banned substances and is offered per-product or per-batch. The program is smaller than NSF or Informed Sport but is used by some specialty brands and athlete-medical advisors who prefer BSCG's specific protocols. BSCG operates on a similar principle to the other two programs — independent testing against a defined banned-substance list — but is not currently recognized by USADA on the same terms as NSF Certified for Sport.
NSF vs Informed Sport vs BSCG
| Program | Operator | Testing Model | Recognized By | Database |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSF Certified for Sport | NSF International | Product-level + ongoing facility inspection + periodic re-testing; NSF/ANSI 173 + NSF 306 | USADA, MLB, NHL, CFL; recommended by NFL, NBA, PGA, LPGA | nsfsport.com / NSF mobile app |
| Informed Sport | LGC Assure | Batch-level (every batch tested) | UKAD-aligned; widely accepted in UK and European sport | sport.wetestyoutrust.com |
| BSCG | Banned Substances Control Group | Per-product or per-batch (Drug-Free certification) | Used by specialty brands and athlete-medical advisors | BSCG public registry |
Practical Guidance for Athletes
The protective protocol that league-medical staff repeat across the major U.S. sports:
- Default to NSF Certified for Sport if you are tested under USADA, MLB, or the NHL framework. NSF carries the broadest formal recognition. See NSF Certified for Sport.
- Informed Sport is a legitimate alternative for athletes in UK and European sport, and is accepted by many U.S. athlete-medical advisors. The batch model is particularly attractive for athletes who use a single product over years and can verify each lot.
- BSCG covers a smaller universe but is fit-for-purpose where a specific brand chooses BSCG over NSF or Informed Sport.
- Verify the lot number directly in the certifier's database. Logo misuse on packaging has been documented across the dietary-supplement industry. The database is the source of truth.
- Re-verify before each repurchase. Batch certification status changes; brands enter and leave programs; SKUs are added and discontinued.
USADA's standing position on certified products applies to all three programs in the same form: certification significantly reduces, but does not necessarily eliminate, the chance of testing positive. The strict-liability principle means an athlete who tests positive from a contaminated certified product still bears the consequence, although the certification is a meaningful mitigating factor in penalty discussions.
Related Reading
For the underlying contamination problem these programs exist to solve, see CBD THC Contamination Risk and the Bonn-Miller et al. JAMA 2017 finding of 69% mislabeling. For the verified NSF directory of CBD products, see NSF Certified CBD Products List. For the broader CBD pharmacology and athlete evidence base, see CBD & Athletic Performance.