NSF Athletics Banned Substances Program

Program Overview

The NSF International Athletics Banned Substances Program (BSP) is a globallyrecognized, thirdparty certification that helps athletes, coaches, trainers and sports organizations identify nutritional supplements and sports nutrition products that are free from substances prohibited by major antidoping agencies (WADA, USADA, NCAA, etc.). A product that carries the Certified for Sport (CFS) mark has undergone rigorous testing of every batch to prove that it does not contain any undisclosed prohibited substances or dangerous contaminants.

Since its launch in 2005, the program has tested more than 10,000 product batches and has become the gold standard for cleansport supplementation. The certification process is independent of product manufacturers and is based on NSFs own laboratory capabilities, ensuring impartial results.

Why Choose Certified for Sport Products?

• Risk Reduction: Athletes avoid inadvertent doping violations caused by contaminated or mislabelled supplements.
• Transparency: Every ingredient list, including proprietary blends, is disclosed and verified.
• Quality Assurance: Products meet NSFs stringent Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) requirements.
• International Acceptance: The CFS mark is recognized by most national antidoping agencies worldwide.
• Peace of Mind: Coaches and medical staff can confidently recommend these products without fearing hidden risks.

Certified for Sport Product Categories

The following categories contain products that have earned the Certified for Sport designation. Click on any product name for a detailed fact sheet.

How Certification Works

1. Application: The manufacturer submits a product for CFS certification.
2. Ingredient Review: NSF reviews the full ingredient list and checks each component against the World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List.
3. Batch Testing: Every production batch is analyzed using validated, highsensitivity methods (LCMS/MS, GCMS, ELISA). Detection limits are set at 0.1ng/mL, far below any doping threshold.
4. Manufacturing Audit: NSF auditors inspect the facility for GMP compliance, segregation of bannedsubstancefree lines, and proper documentation.
5. Certification Decision: If the product passes all checks, NSF grants the Certified for Sport mark and updates the public database.
6. Ongoing Surveillance: Random retesting of market samples ensures continued compliance.

Resources for Athletes & Professionals

• NSF Certified for Sport Product Database searchable list of all approved items.
• World AntiDoping Agency current Prohibited List.
• USADA Education Portal FAQs on supplement safety.
• Downloadable Guidance Manual for Coaches (PDF, 1MB).

For further inquiries, contact NSF Internationals Athletics Program at athletics@nsf.org or call 1800555NSF.