Certified for Sport® Program
Whether you are a student or professional athlete, you may worry about what’s really in the supplements that you take. NSF’s Certified for Sport® testing program helps confirm that sports supplements and sports nutritional products do not contain substances banned by many major athletic organizations.
NSF developed this program to meet the growing demand of athletes, coaches and parents who are concerned about banned substances in sports. This independent testing and certification program helps minimize the risk that a dietary supplement or sports nutrition product contains banned substances when taken at the recommended serving size.
Purpose of the Program
The program verifies that certified manufacturers and their products meet NSF's stringent independent certification process guidelines, including:
- Product testing for banned substances
- Formulation and label review
- Production facility and supplier inspections
- Ongoing monitoring
Which Banned Substances Are Addressed?
NSF certifies products and inspects facilities for a range of banned substances identified by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and leading sports organizations, such as the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB). We test for 290 stimulants, narcotics, steroids, diuretics, beta-2-agonists, masking agents and other substances.
MLB, NHL and CFL clubs are permitted to only provide and recommend products that are Certified for Sport®, and players are urged to only use these products. The Certified for Sport® certification is also recommended by the NFL, PGA, LPGA, CCES, CPSDA and Taylor Hooton Foundation as well as many other sports organizations.
Why Is Third-Party Certification Important?
Products certified by NSF conform to the highest industry standards. From extensive product testing and formulation/label review to unannounced plant inspections, NSF is the only independent testing organization to conduct a complete evaluation of every aspect of a product's production before it can earn certification. Ongoing monitoring ensures continued compliance to program requirements.
How Can I Find NSF Certified Products?
Products that successfully meet NSF's program requirements use the NSF Certified for Sport® mark on the product label. For an up-to-date list of certified products, check NSF’s online database or download the Certified for Sport® app. The app features enhanced search capabilities, side-by-side product comparisons and a UPC barcode scanner to find Certified for Sport® supplements tested on a lot-by-lot basis for over 290 athletic banned substances. In addition, you can search the certified products library by name, supplement type and goal. You can also mark your favorite products and receive up-to-date listings and updates through push notifications.
What If I Purchase a Product That Isn't NSF Certified?
You are taking a risk because there is no way to know if what’s in the product matches what’s shown on the label. Even worse, the product could contain banned substances.
For additional information about testing of sports supplements, visit NSF’s Certified for Sport® website.
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