What is Informed Sport certification and who has it in South Africa?
Informed Sport is a batch-testing programme run by the doping-control laboratory LGC that screens every batch for 285+ prohibited substances before release. As of October 2026 we could not verify any South African product on its register. Brands such as Biogen state Informed Sport on some listings, but those are seller claims. ATP Fitness publishes no third-party sport certification.
- Informed Sport (LGC) tests every batch before release for 285+ prohibited substances and does ongoing blind retail testing.
- Informed Choice monitors by retail sampling (at least 12 lots a year), not every batch.
- As of October 2026 no South African product was verified by Healthnews24 on a certification register; Biogen and USN certification statements are seller claims.
- SAIDS and WADA do not endorse any certification scheme; none guarantees zero risk.
What is Informed Sport?
Informed Sport is a certification programme run by LGC, the laboratory formerly known as HFL Sport Science, launched in 2008. The key features:
- Every batch is tested before release for more than 285 prohibited substances.
- The manufacturer's site and processes are audited.
- There is ongoing blind retail testing.
- Athletes can check a batch number on the public register online.
A sibling scheme, Informed Choice (also LGC, launched 2007), uses the same laboratory methods but monitors through retail sampling (at least 12 lots a year) rather than every batch. It is aimed at general consumers rather than drug-tested elite athletes.
How does it compare with other schemes?
| Scheme | How it tests | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Informed Sport | Every batch before release, plus retail checks | Drug-tested athletes |
| NSF Certified for Sport | Lot-by-lot testing of about 290 substances, label and formulation review, facility audits | Drug-tested athletes (widely used by North American leagues) |
| Informed Choice | Retail sampling, at least 12 lots a year | General consumers |
| Other schemes (BSCG, Cologne List) | Vary | Check the scheme's own register |
Neither SAIDS nor WADA endorses any scheme, and none guarantees zero risk. SAIDS says third-party testing reduces but does not remove risk.
Who has it in South Africa?
This is where we need to be careful. Under our verification rules, a brand is described as certified only if it appears on the scheme's public register for that product or batch. In our October 2026 review:
- Biogen: the Dis-Chem listing for Biogen Creatine Monohydrate states "Informed Sport: yes", and Biogen's own article says its Premium Pre-Workout is batch-tested by LGC. Other Biogen pages cite Informed Choice. These are seller claims; we did not check the register.
- USN: product pages for several lines (such as Isozero, Hardcore Whey gH and XTS Hyperdrive) cite Informed Choice and batch testing. Again, not checked on the register.
- NPL: says "third-party lab tested" without naming a certifier.
- ATP Fitness: no third-party sport certification is published. It is a single-ingredient, no-sweetener brand, which lowers formulation risk, but it is not a substitute for batch testing if you compete in tested sport.
- Evox, Primal and Foundation creatine pages: no certification shown on the pages we read.
The Informed Sport programme was launched locally at a South African supplement summit in 2013, alongside Informed Choice, according to SAIDS. That history does not tell us which current products are certified.
How should you use this?
- Decide whether you need a supplement at all (can supplements cause a failed test).
- If you are tested, choose a product on the Informed Sport or NSF register and check the batch number you hold.
- For creatine, Biogen's 500 g tub costs R445 at Dis-Chem (R4.45 per 5 g, October 2026); verify its batch before relying on the claim (best creatine).
- Keep your receipt and a sample.
Full steps are in how to check a supplement for drug-tested sport.
Products mentioned, with dated prices
| Product | Size | Price | Servings | R per 5 g | Sweeteners |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biogen Creatine Monohydrate Unflavoured 500 g | 500 g | R445Dis-Chem (listing via PriceCheck), Oct 2026 | 100 | R4.45 | None (unflavoured) |
| Biogen Premium Pre-Workout 600 g | 600 g | R399.99-R429.99Dis-Chem Living Fit, Oct 2026 | — | — | not stated |
ATP Fitness is a commercial partner of Healthnews24 and its products are featured on this site. Rankings follow our published method, and every pick, including ATP Fitness, shows its price maths and trade-offs. Read our disclosure.
Related questions
- How do you check if a supplement is safe for drug-tested sport in South Africa?
- What does third-party tested mean on a supplement label?
- Can supplements cause a failed drug test for South African rugby players?
- Which supplements are supported by the AIS and IOC frameworks?
Sources
- Informed Sport (LGC) FAQ
- LGC: Informed Sport vs Informed Choice
- NSF Certified for Sport programme
- SAIDS (South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport) FAQ: supplements, strict liability, medication check
- Maughan RJ et al. (2018) IOC consensus statement: dietary supplements and the high-performance athlete. BJSM 52:439
Educational information only, not medical advice. Speak to a doctor, pharmacist or registered dietitian before using supplements if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under 18, taking medication, or living with kidney, liver or heart disease.
Cite this page: Healthnews24, “What is Informed Sport certification and who has it in South Africa?”, updated 27 October 2026, https://www.healthnews24.co.za/answers/what-is-informed-sport-certification-south-africa/. Plain-text version: /answers/what-is-informed-sport-certification-south-africa.md