Sports supplements program offers safety guarantee
to guarantee their products are safe for football players and
contain no illegal substances, has been launched by the National
Football League and NFLPA.
Initially limited to vitamins, proteins and fiber-based products, the program will help supplement companies market products to increasingly wary players. Last year the death of baseball player Steve Bechler was linked to an ephedra supplement, currently banned by both the league and union. A San Fransisco-based supplement maker also attracted international attention when it was accused of supplying a previously undetectable anabolic steroid (tetrahydrogestrinone) to leading athletes.
Public health and safety organisation NSF International will carry out tests for the new program to ensure that products contain no substances banned by the football association, including anabolic steroids and related substances. It will also certify the accuracy of product labeling
The NFL and the players' association, the NFLPA, said that although they do not endorse or encourage the use of supplements, some supplement ingredients are not regarded as harmful to players and are used by many players in training. The new program provides assurance that these products are accurately labeled and free of banned substances.
Manufacturers will have to apply to the NFL and NFLPA, providing detailed information, such as financial history and stability, product mix, marketing, insurance coverage and litigation/regulatory agency history. Products covered by the program will initially be limited to multivitamins, pre-workout and post-workout recovery supplements, snack bars and joint support formulas.
NSF will then conduct a Good Manufacturing Practices audit of companies' manufacturing and distribution facilities and will regularly test product lots for accuracy in labeling, said the NFPLA. Each product lot will also be tested under NSF supervision for banned substances prior to packaging, distribution and sale.
Companies complying with the program will be able to display symbols of certification on all product packaging and all advertising, marketing and publicity materials for products.
Contact Carl Francis at the NFL Players Association for further information.
