LGC's Global Supplements Testing Programme, Informed-Sport, Partners with Chemist Warehouse

Leading Australian pharmacy chain Chemist Warehouse and international science group LGC have agreed a partnership to develop consumer education and greater industry awareness for the globally-recognised banned substance testing programme Informed-Sport.

Brands INC Sports Nutrition, Pure Warrior Powered by Swisse, join Etixx having recently certified entire ranges on to Informed-Sport, and all are now available in Chemist Warehouse stores throughout Australia.

Research has shown that some sports nutrition products continue to present a risk to athletes and the general consumer because they may contain steroids and/or stimulants.

Chemist Warehouse’s commitment to the Informed-Sport programme minimises that risk and provides consumers with much needed quality assurance in the products it supplies.

Athletes can now purchase Informed-Sport products from Chemist Warehouse in the confidence that every batch has been screened for substances banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) before it goes on sale.

“With the ongoing perception around sports supplements, brands such as INC Sports Nutrition, Pure Warrior Powdered by Swisse and Etixx are leading the way in the Australian market, working with Chemist Warehouse to supply quality assured products,” said Mario Tascone, Chief Operating Officer of Chemist Warehouse.

“All these brands register products on to Informed-Sport, and this is crucial for a company such as Chemist Warehouse because of its commitment to quality assurance and meeting consumer needs.”
Informed-Sport is a globally-recognised banned substance testing programme based on two fundamental pillars of quality assurance: a rigorous pre-registration audit of a product and its manufacturing processes, followed by the testing of every batch before release to market.

Currently there are 415 products from 13 different countries registered on the programme, which has been identified by elite sports and the anti-doping community worldwide as providing the highest level of risk management to athletes.

“LGC’s partnership with Chemist Warehouse to provide both education and quality assurance for sports nutrition looks set to change the landscape of the industry in Australia,” said Terence O’Rorke, LGC’s Director of Business Development for Sport and Specialised Analytical Services.

“The supplements industry has made significant strides in recent years to provide products free of contamination with substances banned in sport, and Chemist Warehouse’s commitment to this standard will only benefit sport and the consumer.”

Informed-Sport was established in 2008 with the support of UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and is recognised by some of the leading National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs) across the world. Since 2008 LGC has analysed more than 50,000 samples.