Informed Sport
Informed Sport is a UK quality programme. It tests every batch of a certified product. The test checks for banned substances on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) list. Of the marks we show on Certwell, it covers the most UK and European brands.
Who runs it
Informed Sport is run by LGC. LGC is a global science firm. It is based in Teddington, UK. It used to be the Laboratory of the Government Chemist. It is still the UK's National Measurement Institute for chemical and bio-measurement. Its sport drug lab is ISO/IEC 17025 accredited. The lab works with WADA, pro leagues, and national anti-doping bodies.
Informed Sport vs Informed Choice
LGC runs two programmes under the “Informed” name. The difference is how often they test.
- Informed Sport — every batch tested. Each batch is checked before it goes on sale. The lot code on the pack links to one test result.
- Informed Choice — sample testing. Only some batches are tested each quarter. That gives less assurance. But it still beats no third-party testing at all. Read about Informed Choice →
For athletes who compete, Informed Sport is the right tier. Informed Choice is more like a routine check.
What is actually tested
- Banned-substance screening. Each batch is tested for things on the WADA Prohibited List. The test uses ultra-trace mass spectrometry. It can spot tiny traces at parts-per-billion levels.
- Site check. The factory is checked for the risk of mix-ups from other products made there. This matters a lot. Many cases come from shared lines, not from cheating.
- Supply-chain review. The firms that supply the raw stuff are checked too. They must show their own controls before a product can join the programme.
How to verify a batch
You can look up every certified batch at sport.wetestyoutrust.com. Find the lot code on the pack. It is often near the use-by date. Then search for it. If the lot is not listed, it is not certified. That holds even if the brand and product name look right.
For athletes, this lot check is the key step. A formula in the list is not enough. The bottle in your hand must match a real batch result.
What Informed Sport does not cover
- Heavy metals are not the main focus. The programme puts banned substances first. Some contaminant tests do happen during the supplier and site check. But the main promise is anti-doping safety, not all-round purity.
- Dose and label match are not the headline check. For label accuracy, Informed Sport leans on the maker's own controls and GMP. If dose is your main worry, such as for daily vitamins, USP Verified is a better fit.
- Does it work? Like every mark on this site, it is about content and contamination. It does not say if the product gives a real benefit.
When it matters most
Informed Sport is the top mark for UK athletes who compete. UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) names the programme in its advice to athletes. Many UK brands have lines in Informed Sport. These include Optimum Nutrition, Applied Nutrition, Healthspan Elite, MyProtein, Soccer Supplement, and Puresport.
It counts most in some types of product. Think protein powders, pre-workouts, electrolyte and recovery drinks, BCAAs, and products with stimulants. These are the ones most often tied to anti-doping slip-ups.
Common misconceptions
- A logo on a brand site is not the same as a certified batch. Brands sometimes show the logo across a whole site or range. Always check the lot code on the real bottle.
- Strict liability still applies. Even for athletes, the mark cuts risk but does not remove it. In most sports, the rules use strict liability. The athlete is to blame for what is in their body, no matter the source. The mark is a strong defence. It is not a free pass.