ConsumerLab.com Now Testing for Banned Substances

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--With the Winter Olympics in full throttle and athletes already testing positive for unapproved drugs, ConsumerLab.com reported that it will begin testing dietary supplements for banned substances. This screening process will be an adjunct to its current certification program for meeting labeled claims, and it is open to any supplement manufacturer that fears its product could disqualify athletes from Olympic and other competition. The screening program--which will test sports nutrition products as well as all other categories of dietary supplements--will test for 63 banned substances, including stimulants, narcotics, anabolic agents, diuretics, masking agents and beta-blockers, based on the Olympic Movement Anti-Doping Code.

"With uncertainty surrounding the quality of supplements and the possible severe implications of tainted products for athletes and sports associations, it has clearly become necessary for ConsumerLab.com to offer banned substances screening as an adjunct to its existing program," stated Tod Cooperman, M.D., president of ConsumerLab.com.

Cooperman told INSIDER that as opposed to a traditional ConsumerLab.com product review, this program is an adjunct screening program which cuts across all categories of supplements and nutritional products. "The testing is taking place at the request of parties that come to us," he said. "Products that pass may be added to the appropriate CL Approved Quality Lists by supplement category as well as a new list of products that have passed the screen." He added that passing products will bear the appropriate ConsumerLab.com certification mark to indicate they have been screened for banned substances.

ConsumerLab.com (www.consumberlab.com) welcomes manufacturers, sports associations and others to participate in the program, which includes a testing fee.