From the beginning of training camp throughout the regular season, players push themselves to the limit. They eat healthfully, take care of their bodies and know what they need to do to stay in optimum shape. But when it comes to supplements, there have been a lot of unknowns in the past.
“We have been very reluctant to recommend supplements, not knowing if they were safe to take,” said New York Giants Player Development Director Charles Way. “We have always encouraged players to be very careful about any supplements they may take. Now, the certification program does due diligence for the player by making sure the products are banned-substance free.”
The Sports Nutrition Label Certification Program, created by the NFL and NFLPA, guarantees for players that certain approved companies do not manufacture any products that contain substances banned under the NFL/NFLPA Policy on Anabolic Steroids and Related Substances. Players can easily tell that they are using certified products, because all certified products contain a seal of approval (that the products have been tested and approved) on their packaging.
“We knew how loosely regulated the supplement industry was, so we always encouraged players--if they were going to take supplements—to take the responsibility to have the product tested,” said NFLPA Director of Player Development Stacy Robinson, who oversees and administers the union’s Steroid Policy and the Sports Nutrition Label Certification Program. “That didn’t work well, so we worked with the League office to develop this program, the first of its kind in professional sports.” Robinson said although the NFLPA doesn’t encourage the use of supplements, they understand that players are going to use them. “So we want to make sure that there is a safe environment,” he said, “for them to receive the supplements.”
Studies indicate a large number of supplements contain ingredients banned under the NFL/NFLPA policy, said Robinson, “but they may not be posted on the label. So it’s important that players can trust a product to be what it says, which is why it’s so important we rigorously vet and examine any company that wants to be part of our program.”
Kansas City Chiefs Jared Allen (DE) said he’s a fan of the program. “It gives me a tremendous sense of relief,” he said, “to know that there are products that I can take that have gone through extensive testing to make sure they don’t have anything in them that may cost me my career and/or my reputation.”
The Sports Nutrition Label Certification Program certifies the accuracy of product labeling and certifies that the products contain no substances banned under the NFL/NFLPA policy.
Companies that wish to be considered for this certification program may contact Robinson at the NFLPA. They must apply to the NFL and NFLPA, providing information such as financial history and stability, product mix, marketing, insurance coverage and litigation/regulatory agency history. Companies that apply and meet the NFL/NFLPA criteria may participate in the certification program. NSF, an independent testing agency, will conduct a Good Manufacturing Practices audit of all such companies' manufacturing and distribution facilities and will regularly test product lots for accuracy in labeling.