Quick answer: BSCG (Banned Substance Control Group) is one of the world's leading independent third-party certification programs for dietary supplements. They test products for banned substances, contaminants, and drug compounds that could cause a failed drug test or health risk. Do Vitamins tests every batch of PurePump through BSCG — not a one-time certification, but ongoing verification that what's on the label is exactly what's in the container.
What Is BSCG?
The Banned Substance Control Group (BSCG) is an independent, third-party testing and certification organization headquartered in Los Angeles. Founded by Oliver Catlin — whose father, Don Catlin, MD, established the UCLA Olympic Analytical Laboratory and is widely considered the father of modern drug testing in sports — BSCG brings world-class anti-doping science to the supplement industry.
BSCG exists because of a real problem: supplement contamination. Studies have repeatedly found that dietary supplements — particularly sports supplements — can contain undeclared substances including anabolic steroids, stimulants, prescription drugs, and other banned compounds. Sometimes this contamination is intentional (to make the product "work" through illicit ingredients). Sometimes it's accidental (cross-contamination in manufacturing).
Either way, the consequences for athletes are the same: a positive drug test, potential suspension, loss of livelihood, and health risks from unknown substances.
BSCG's role is to independently verify that a supplement is:
- Free of banned substances — testing against the prohibited lists of WADA, MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA, PGA, LPGA, and other organizations
- Free of undeclared drugs and contaminants — beyond just "banned in sports," testing for prescription drugs, OTC medications, and toxins
- Accurately labeled — what's on the label is what's in the product
How BSCG Testing Works
BSCG's testing program is comprehensive and rigorous. Here's what happens:
Step 1: Sample Collection
BSCG collects finished product samples directly — not raw materials, not prototypes, but the actual product that consumers will purchase.
Step 2: Analytical Testing
Each sample undergoes testing for hundreds of substances across multiple categories:
- Anabolic agents — steroids, SARMs, prohormones, growth hormone secretagogues
- Stimulants — amphetamines, ephedrine, DMAA, DMHA, and other banned stimulants
- Narcotics and cannabinoids — opioids, THC, and related compounds
- Diuretics and masking agents — substances that could be used to evade drug tests
- Beta-2 agonists — clenbuterol and related compounds
- Prescription drugs — undeclared pharmaceuticals including PDE5 inhibitors, anti-diabetic drugs, and others
- Heavy metals and contaminants — lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, and other toxins
The testing uses LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) and GC-MS/MS (gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) — the same analytical methods used by WADA-accredited laboratories for Olympic drug testing.
Step 3: Certification
If the product passes all screens, BSCG issues a Certified Drug Free certificate for that specific batch, including lot numbers and expiration dates.
Step 4: Ongoing Monitoring
This is where BSCG's program differs from one-time testing. The BSCG Certified Drug Free program involves ongoing batch testing — not a single test that certifies a product forever.
Why BSCG Certification Matters
For Competitive Athletes
If you compete in drug-tested sports — at any level — a failed drug test can end your season or career. The problem is that YOU are responsible for everything you ingest, regardless of whether a supplement was accidentally contaminated. "I didn't know" is not an accepted defense.
BSCG certification dramatically reduces this risk. While no testing program can guarantee 100% absence of every substance in the universe, BSCG's screening covers the vast majority of prohibited substances across all major sports organizations.
For Recreational Athletes and Health-Conscious Consumers
Even if you never take a drug test, banned substance contamination is a health concern. Undeclared anabolic steroids, stimulants, and pharmaceutical drugs in supplements have caused adverse health events including liver damage, cardiac events, and hormonal disruption.
BSCG certification means you're getting what the label says — nothing more, nothing less.
For Trust and Transparency
The supplement industry is largely self-regulated. Brands can (and do) make claims without independent verification. Third-party testing is the mechanism that turns "trust me" into "verify it." A BSCG certificate is a verifiable document — you can see the batch number, the test date, and the results.
BSCG vs. NSF Certified for Sport vs. Informed Sport
There are three major third-party testing programs for sports supplements. Here's how they compare:
| Feature | BSCG Certified Drug Free | NSF Certified for Sport | Informed Sport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | By Oliver Catlin (family pioneered Olympic drug testing) | NSF International | LGC Group (UK) |
| Testing scope | 500+ drugs, banned substances, contaminants, heavy metals | ~270+ banned substances + label claim verification | ~250+ banned substances |
| Sports coverage | WADA, MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA, PGA, LPGA, more | NFL, NFLPA, MLB, MLBPA, NHL, NHLPA, CFL, CFLPA, PGA | WADA, various international federations |
| Batch testing | Yes — ongoing batch certification | Yes — ongoing production audits | Yes — ongoing batch testing |
| Facility audits | Available as add-on | Includes GMP facility audit | Available as add-on |
| Drug testing heritage | Direct lineage to UCLA Olympic Analytical Lab | General product safety organization | Government forensics lab origin (UK) |
| Publicly accessible certificates | Yes — per batch | Yes — searchable database | Yes — searchable database |
Key Differences
BSCG stands out for: - The broadest substance screening panel (500+ substances) - Direct lineage to the pioneers of Olympic anti-doping science - Specific focus on the sports and supplement space (it's not a general product safety organization) - Per-batch certification with publicly accessible certificates
NSF Certified for Sport stands out for: - Widespread adoption by major US professional sports leagues - Includes manufacturing facility audits as part of the standard program - Large searchable database of certified products
Informed Sport stands out for: - Strong international presence, especially in Europe, Australia, and Olympic sports - Government forensics lab heritage (LGC) - Wide adoption in international sport federations
All three are legitimate, rigorous programs. None of them are rubber stamps. Any product carrying any of these certifications has undergone real, independent testing. The best choice depends on which sports organizations you compete under and which testing scope you prioritize.
"Every Batch" — What That Actually Means
This is a critical distinction that many supplement brands gloss over.
Some brands test a product once and then use that certification to market the product indefinitely — even as they produce new batches from potentially different suppliers, in different facilities, months or years later. A one-time test tells you that one particular batch, at one particular time, was clean. It tells you nothing about the batch you're holding.
Do Vitamins tests every batch of PurePump through BSCG. This means:
- Each production run is independently sampled and tested
- Each batch receives its own certification with specific lot numbers
- If a batch fails (it hasn't, but if it did), it wouldn't be sold — and the historical certifications of other batches remain valid
- The certification on the product you buy corresponds to the actual product you buy
This is more expensive. It's slower. It requires coordinating testing logistics for every production run. But it's the only approach that ensures the product on the shelf right now — not the product from two years ago — is verified.
View PurePump's Current BSCG Certificate (PDF) →
The Supplement Contamination Problem
If you think third-party testing is overkill, consider the data:
- A 2004 IOC study found that 14.8% of 634 supplements from 13 countries contained undeclared anabolic steroids — none listed on the label
- FDA enforcement data shows hundreds of supplements recalled for containing undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients including sildenafil, sibutramine, and synthetic steroids
- A 2020 study in JAMA Network Open found that 776 dietary supplements identified by the FDA as adulterated contained unapproved pharmaceutical ingredients
- USADA (US Anti-Doping Agency) maintains a "High Risk List" of supplement categories most frequently contaminated with prohibited substances
The brands producing contaminated products don't put "contains undeclared steroids" on the label. They look like any other supplement. They have professional packaging, influencer endorsements, and Amazon listings. The only way to know is independent testing.
How Do Vitamins Uses BSCG Certification
Product: PurePump® Pre-Workout (and additional products in the Do Vitamins lineup) Serving size: 2 scoops (7.6g) | Servings per container: 30 | Calories: 25
PurePump carries the BSCG Certified Drug Free designation, with every batch independently tested and certified. This matters because PurePump contains 15 active branded ingredients — every one of which is verified through BSCG testing to be exactly what's on the label:
| Ingredient | Branded Source | Per Serving (2 scoops) |
|---|---|---|
| Beta-Alanine | CarnoSyn® | 2,000mg |
| L-Citrulline | Kyowa Hakko | 2,000mg |
| Creatine Monohydrate | — | 1,000mg |
| L-Arginine | AjiPure® | 500mg |
| L-Carnitine L-Tartrate | Carnipure™ | 500mg |
| L-Leucine | AjiPure® | 500mg |
| L-Isoleucine | AjiPure® | 250mg |
| L-Valine | AjiPure® | 250mg |
| Caffeine (Green Tea) | — | 200mg |
| Alpha Lipoic Acid | AliPure® | 100mg |
| Vitamin C | Quali-C® | 60mg |
| Niacin | — | 20mg |
| Vitamin B6 | — | 10mg |
| Folate | Orgen-FA® | 400mcg DFE |
| Vitamin B12 | Methylcobalamin | 50mcg |
The entire 7.6g serving is active ingredients — zero filler, zero flavoring, zero sweeteners. This is precisely what makes BSCG batch testing essential: with no buffer ingredients, every milligram matters and must be exactly as labeled.
BSCG certification is the final verification layer in a broader commitment to transparency and purity that includes:
- No proprietary blends — every ingredient and its exact dosage is disclosed on the label
- Branded ingredients only — AjiPure®, Kyowa Hakko, CarnoSyn®, Carnipure™, AliPure®, Quali-C®, Orgen-FA® — all from verified, reputable manufacturers
- GMP Certified manufacturing — produced in facilities that meet FDA current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations
- Additional certifications — Certified Vegan, Keto Certified, Certified Paleo
After sourcing premium branded ingredients, manufacturing in GMP facilities, and disclosing everything on the label, third-party BSCG testing confirms the end product is exactly what it should be.
For athletes competing in drug-tested sports, this is not optional — it's essential. For everyone else, it's the standard that clean sports nutrition should be held to.
View PurePump's BSCG Certificate (PDF) →
FAQ
What does "BSCG Certified Drug Free" mean?
It means the product has been independently tested by the Banned Substance Control Group and found to be free of banned substances, undeclared drugs, and contaminants. The certification covers over 500 substances, including those prohibited by WADA, MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA, and other organizations.
Is BSCG certification the same as FDA approval?
No. The FDA does not "approve" dietary supplements before they go to market — supplements are regulated under a different framework than drugs. BSCG is an independent third-party program that provides testing and verification that the FDA's regulatory framework does not require. Think of it as a voluntary, higher standard that brands opt into.
How is BSCG different from NSF Certified for Sport?
Both are legitimate third-party testing programs, but they differ in scope and heritage. BSCG screens for 500+ substances (vs. ~270+ for NSF), was founded by the family that pioneered Olympic drug testing, and focuses specifically on the sports supplement space. NSF is a broader product safety organization that includes a sport-specific program. Both are respected certifications.
Does "every batch tested" really mean every batch?
At Do Vitamins, yes. Every production run of PurePump is independently sampled and tested by BSCG, receiving its own batch-specific certification with lot numbers. This is distinct from brands that test once and use the certification indefinitely. You can verify this by checking the lot numbers on the certificate against the lot number on your product.
Can I still fail a drug test if I use BSCG-certified supplements?
BSCG testing dramatically reduces the risk of a positive test from supplement contamination, but no testing program can guarantee 100% protection against every conceivable substance at every possible detection threshold. That said, BSCG's 500+ substance screening panel, using the same analytical methods as WADA-accredited labs, is one of the most comprehensive screens available. Athletes should always consult their sport's anti-doping authority for the most current prohibited list.
Why don't more supplement brands use BSCG or similar testing?
Cost and accountability. Third-party testing is expensive, especially on a per-batch basis. It also means submitting your product to independent scrutiny — if your product contains undeclared substances or doesn't match the label, testing will expose that. Brands that prioritize margins over quality have little incentive to invite independent verification. Brands that prioritize transparency see it as essential.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
