SiS Joins HFL’s Evolved Banned Substance Testing Programme

– New and evolved certification programme goes even further to minimize risk of banned substances in products
– SiS are the first brand manufacturer to be using three-pronged testing approach

Since 1992, Science in Sport (SiS) has supplied Olympic and World champions, Tour de France winners and serious amateur athletes. SiS acts responsibly to minimise the risk of product contamination that could lead to a positive banned substances test. Athletes put their trust in SiS, and they take that responsibility very seriously.

“We know how vitally important this area of sports nutrition is. It’s something we’ve already had a rigorous approach to, but we are striving for even better to ensure that we continue to lead the way in this area,” says Stephen Moon, Chief Executive of SiS. “When you’re dealing with athletes’ livelihoods and reputations, there isn’t any room for error.”

SiS manufactures their products in the UK and their Innovation Centre in Lancashire is an accredited Informed-Sport site. Following an extensive review of the Informed-Sport registration and acceptance criteria (approved by the Informed-Sport panel), an evolved certification programme has been introduced to complement the existing product registration programme. SiS has been working closely with HFL and is an early adopter of this new and even more rigorous approach.

The Informed-Sport website is a way for both professional and amateur athletes to check that a brand has testing procedures in place, and that the testing laboratory has approved the manufacturing conditions and processes.

The acceptance criteria of the revised programme is targeted towards companies such as Science in Sport, an own brand manufacturer with no third party production interests.

There are three key principles to the evolved testing scheme. Firstly, every single batch of incoming raw ingredients will have a classified risk level and be tested by the HFL laboratory.

Secondly, HFL will test SiS finished products. Initially, this analysis will focus on product registration (the same process employed for the standard Informed-Sport programme). Once registered, each product will then be tested four times per year with samples being sourced from retail outlets. This ensures that products are reflective of those purchased by our consumers.

Lastly, there will be two production site audits a year. These are short notice or unannounced audits where HFL are able to turn up and take swab samples from around the site to check the facility is compliant and to ensure the raw materials sampling procedures are being adhered to.

Based on the extensive testing of all raw materials and a wide range of finished products, combined with the multiple site audits, this will allow SiS products to carry the Informed-Sport logo, the mark of an assured product.

“To the best of my knowledge, we are the first brand manufacturer to be using this three-pronged approach of raw material testing, product testing and manufacturing line swabbing,” adds Moon. “We apply this across our whole range, so it doesn’t just apply to a small selection of our manufactured products.”

HFL are the testing laboratory that handles banned substance testing for the Informed- Sport programme. SiS have been working with HFL for more than 6 years, performing testing on a wide range of finished products and raw materials.

“It’s great that SiS are looking to further their Informed-Sport certification with product registration,” says Paul Brown from HFL. “This emphasises their commitment towards quality sports supplements.”

SiS customers and professional athletes can continue to feel confident about the quality and source of the ingredients in their SiS products, and that SiS product quality is delivered without compromise.