A LONGTIME LEADER IN SUPPLEMENT SAFETY AND SPORT DRUG TESTING

BSCG, the Banned Substances Control Group, is a third-party supplement certification organization focused on testing dietary supplements and other consumer products for banned drugs, contaminants, label accuracy and verifying GMP compliance. Built on Olympic-level anti-doping science, BSCG helps protect athletes, military personnel, and consumers from the risks of hidden or undeclared substances. Its testing standards were shaped by decades of drug-testing leadership across the Olympic Games, professional sports, and regulatory collaboration. Today BSCG offers 5 third-party certification programs tailored for anti-doping protection, consumer safety, CBD quality and safety, GMP compliance for brands, or onsite GMP audits for manufacturers.

What Is BSCG and What Do We Mean for Supplement Safety

BSCG is a third-party certification and testing organization that evaluates dietary supplement products, natural products, and other consumer packaged goods, or their ingredients, for banned substances, drugs of concern, contaminants, and identity and label claim accuracy. BSCG also verifies GMP compliance for manufacturers and for supplement brands or ingredient providers. The organization was created in 2004 to reduce the risk of accidental exposure to prohibited drugs through contaminated supplements. Today, BSCG supports athletes, active-duty military, brands, and consumers seeking confidence in supplement safety, product quality and GMP compliance. Learn more about the gold standard in dietary supplement certification and the importance of third-party certification for supplement safety.

Even trace contamination in supplements can lead to failed drug tests, health risks, and regulatory consequences. Third-party testing provides a critical layer of protection and verification that product labels contain what they claim on the label and do not have any hidden drugs or contaminants. For a deeper look, read what is third-party supplement testing and why it counts.

A Legacy of Excellence in Anti-Doping and Supplement Safety

Built on a legendary foundation of more than 30 years at the forefront of anti-doping and drug testing in sport, BSCG has been a leader in supplement safety and third-party certification since its founding in 2004. The organization’s commitment to the Olympic standard in analytical testing drives every sample analyzed and every product certified. BSCG employs ISO 17025 testing and industry standard methods and limits to ensure the quality of dietary supplements and other consumer packaged goods including homeopathics, cosmetics and CBD products. See more on BSCG's history and legacy in supplement testing.

Why Third-Party Supplement Certification Matters

Third-party supplement certification helps reduce the risks associated with hidden ingredients, banned substances, and inaccurate label claims. Athletes and professionals subject to drug testing face serious consequences from accidental exposure. Consumers rely on product transparency and accurate labeling to make safe choices. BSCG third-party certification seals represent that companies meet or exceed industry standards for quality and compliance 

Third-party testing helps by:

• Detecting banned substances listed on the WADA Prohibited List

• Screening for prescription, OTC, or illicit drugs that can harm consumers and have been a focus for regulators like the FDA or retailers like Amazon

• Verifying label claims and ingredient identity in finished products and raw materials

• Checking for environmental contaminants to ensure they are below industry standard limits

• Ensuring that brands, ingredient providers, or manufacturers meet their GMP compliance obligations

Third-party testing reduces the risk of hidden drugs in supplements and strengthens consumer trust in product quality. Want to know how hidden adulterants are detected? Visit our guide on supplement adulterant testing.

Major Contributions to Supplement Safety and Sport Drug Testing

Pioneering Leadership

Groundbreaking Research

Industry Impact

Public Health Advocacy

Government Collaboration

Regulatory Enforcement

Innovative Testing Methods

Scientific Contributions

The History Behind Modern Supplement Drug Testing

The evolution of supplement drug testing has been shaped by decades of scientific discovery and regulatory collaboration:

• 1982 – BSCG Co-founder Dr. Don Catlin created the first U.S. Olympic drug-testing laboratory at UCLA, which became the largest sport drug testing lab in the world
• 2000 – JAMA study reveals supplement contamination risk can lead to positive drug tests
• 2005 – Investigation exposes designer steroids in supplements on Bodybuilding.com resulting in one of the largest FDA enforcement actions in history
• 2006 – DMAA identified as a designer stimulant in supplement products leading to regulatory activity by the FDA
• 2018 – Expanded testing includes additional drugs of concern for consumer safety

This work helped define the modern framework for supplement safety testing and third-party certification. For background, see our History of BSCG.

How BSCG Testing Protects Athletes and Consumers

Under the leadership of President and Co-Founder Oliver Catlin, BSCG has expanded BSCG third-party certification beyond a focus on banned substances in sport to include label claim and contaminant testing, and GMP compliance audits. He also worked to expand the testing scope to include drugs not banned in sport that are relevant to consumer safety and retail compliance.

BSCG offers protection to Athletes, Military Service Members, First Responders and general Consumers by:

• Testing for 400+ drugs on the WADA Prohibited List
• Screening for 50+ additional drugs of concern to regulators and retailers like Amazon
• Ingredient identity verification and label claim testing to ensure product potency
• Environmental contaminant analysis for heavy metals, microbiological agents or pesticides.
• GMP compliance verification for manufacturers as well as brands or ingredient providers.

This level of screening supports both athlete safety and consumer confidence while meeting requirements from major retailers. For athletes, supplement testing for banned substances is crucial for compliance and peace of mind.

Following in the footsteps of Dr. Catlin, Oliver Catlin has co-authored publications on anti-doping science and nutrition. His research has explored Russian and Eastern European drugs such as Noopept, Mexidol, Cytoflavin, and Hypoxen, as well as sports nutrition topics including succinic acid and derivatives.

His priorities in research and advocacy focus on antihypoxant, anti-ischemic, nootropic, and anabolic substances that should remain a priority for anti-doping and health authorities and for regulatory oversight of supplements worldwide. He works to unveil drugs that may be used to thwart existing anti-doping regulations and expand the focus of anti-doping testing to include up and coming drugs or those that come from Eastern European that are typically not focused on in sport drug testing.

Why Extensive Drug Testing Matters

Testing for hundreds of banned substances helps reduce the risk of accidental doping violations and enhances product transparency. Organizations that require strict compliance, including professional sports leagues and military programs, rely on high-confidence testing standards. BSCG has always strived to ensure the broadest scope possible when testing for banned substances and remains a leader in the industry with coverage for more than 450 drugs. Learn more about how military drug testing works and why standards matter.

Expanded testing also supports consumer safety by identifying drugs that are not banned in sport that may be present due to contamination, adulteration, or undeclared inclusion. For more on independent verification, read What It Is and Who Does It: Independent Supplement Testing.

FAQ: BSCG Supplement Safety and Third-Party Certification and Testing