BSCG CERTIFIED DRUG FREE® CERTIFICATION PROGRAM ADDRESSES UNMET SUPPLEMENT ADULTERATION CONCERNS, AN ANALYSIS OF FDA STATISTICS CONFIRMS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 16, 2015

BSCG CERTIFIED DRUG FREE^® PROGRAM ADDRESSES UNMET SUPPLEMENT ADULTERATION CONCERNS, AN ANALYSIS OF FDA STATISTICS CONFIRMS 

BSCG is the first to offer protection against drugs not banned in sport

(Los Angeles) – In broadening its services to include a range of new protections against supplement adulteration, including an expanded drug-testing menu for the protection of general consumers, BSCG (Banned Substances Control Group), a highly regarded independent dietary supplement certification provider, is filling important unmet needs in the realm of supplement quality control.  An analysis of the FDA’s Tainted Supplements List reveals that 76% of the hidden drugs found in supplements are not banned in sport—substances that only BSCG’s pioneering program covers.

The FDA’s testing has shown that products may contain harmful compounds falling outside the scope of those banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and elite and professional sports leagues including antihistamines, muscle relaxers, pain killers, weight loss drugs, PDE-5 inhibitors like sildenafil, and more dangerous agents. As the FDA warns, “this list only includes a small fraction of the potentially hazardous products with hidden ingredients.” BSCG is the only certification provider to focus on this concern.

“We knew that the FDA was finding a lot of prescription and over-the-counter drugs not banned in sport in the course of their testing,” said Oliver Catlin, BSCG President. “Recognizing the associated risks, we added those drugs and related compounds to our menu. We’re proud to take the lead in offering additional protection against these substances that are important for the protection of the general consumer.”

BSCG’s industry-leading drug testing menu includes more than 392 compounds, of which 185 are prescription or over-the-counter drugs and 207 are drugs banned in sport. BSCG not only has become the first certification program to safeguard against drugs not banned in sport but also offers the broadest and most finely tuned protection available in the supplement certification industry against substances prohibited by WADA, NFL, MLB, PGA, LPGA, NHL, MLS, ATP, WTA, NCAA, NASCAR and other sporting groups.

Founded in 2004 in Los Angeles by renowned sports anti-doping pioneer Don Catlin, M.D., his son, industry leader Oliver Catlin and respected attorney Ryan Connolly, BSCG grew out of the desire to protect elite athletes and professionals from ingesting hidden substances in supplement products that could lead to health concerns and positive drug tests. No product BSCG has certified has ever led to a positive drug test. In late 2014, the third-party company released its new BSCG Certified Drug Free® program.

In addition to security against drug contamination, the BSCG program includes annual testing for label claims and toxic contaminants and a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) audit. With fervent recent regulatory actions in New York and other states and added scrutiny on compliance with FDA’s 21 C.F.R. 111 – GMP quality control guidelines has come a renewed focus on ensuring that supplement products meet ingredient and finished product specifications for identity, purity, strength and composition and have been appropriately tested for potential contamination.

“Supplement consumers deserve assurance that products are not only drug free but that they meet label claim and contamination specifications and standards,” said Catlin. “BSCG recognizes the importance of these quality control elements and is pleased to include them as part our supplement certification services.”

The BSCG Certified Drug Free^® program represents the gold standard in dietary supplement certification and can be applied to finished products, raw materials or manufacturing facilities. The Athlete Assurance Program offers protection directly to teams, leagues or individuals. BSCG’s certification allows clients to establish products and brands as reputable and drug free and offers assurance on product integrity to consumers and athletes. Look for the BSCG Certified Drug Free^® seal.

For more about BSCG and the BSCG Certified Drug Free^® program, call 1-800-920-6605 or e-mail info@bscg.org, visit its website at www.bscg.org and download its free brochure. Join Banned Substances Control Group on Facebook and @BSCGCertified on Twitter.

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For press inquiries, contact info@bscg.org or 800-920-6605, or Joseph Taylor, BSCG Public Relations Consultant, at joseph.taylor.pr@gmail.com.

Dietary Supplement Certification – BSCG Certified Drug Free®

Dear friends, colleagues and fellow professionals in the anti-doping and supplement industries,

A decade ago our company Banned Substances Control Group (BSCG) helped found a nascent industry focused on dietary supplement certification to provide assurance that products are free of banned substances in sport.  We are pleased to have been a leader in the field since 2004 working with more than 40 companies to certify more than 100 products. As we look to the future, BSCG is leading the industry forward once again with our gold standard BSCG Certified Drug Free® program.

Our foundational supplement certification program was designed for the protection of elite athletes and professionals targeting drugs prohibited in sport—and this still remains a primary focus. We also realized that athletes are not the only consumers facing risks of drug contamination, nor are banned substances in sport the only culprits.  BSCG has responded by broadening our testing menu to focus on drugs of concern not only to athletes but to general consumers and also animals.

The BSCG Certified Drug Free® standard testing menu covers more than 392 drugs, including 207 banned in sport and 185 prescription and over-the-counter drugs not banned in sport. Our optional equine and canine screen includes more than 1,200 drugs banned by the Federation Equine International (FEI) offering protection to racing animals and against feed contamination concerns. With this expanded menu the BSCG Certified Drug Free® program not only offers the best protection available to athletes and sport nutrition products but is the first to safeguard against additional drugs relevant across the spectrum of consumers and products.

Protection against adulteration with drugs is only one element of the BSCG Certified Drug Free® program. With a growing focus on quality control in general, athletes, consumers, nutritionists, doctors, trainers, sport regulators, among others, are starting to demand assurances that products meet quality specifications and are free of toxic contaminants. Recognizing the importance of these elements, BSCG includes annual contaminant and label verification testing and an audit for 21C.F.R.111 – GMP compliance in its program.

The BSCG Certified Drug Free® program, which can be applied to raw materials and manufacturing facilities as well as supplement products, is the most complete quality control solution available in the dietary supplement industry. Our mission is to ensure products and ingredients are free of drugs and other harmful agents that can lead to health concerns or positive drug tests and that quality control specifications are met. Our certification allows clients to establish their products as reputable and drug free and provides athletes and consumers with trusted supplement options.

To explore our program further please download the BSCG Certified Drug Free® brochure. We are always happy to provide further education and support on supplement or anti-doping topics.  Please contact us at 1-800-920-6605, e-mail us at info@bscg.org, or explore our website at www.bscg.org. Thank you in advance for your consideration, we welcome your feedback and comments.

Sincerely,
Oliver Catlin
BSCG President