Tested athletes choose supplements based on not only ingredients, flavour or whether the product works for their training, but also on its transparency. They have to be aware of what else might be in it that may not show up on an ingredients list but may be flagged when it comes to athlete testing.

This is where independent batch testing comes in. In Australia, the two names athletes will see most often are HASTA and Informed Sport. Both are recognised by Sport Integrity Australia as independent testing organisations that screen supplements for substances prohibited under anti-doping rules.

Why does batch testing matter?

Under anti-doping rules, athletes are responsible for any prohibited substance found in their body, regardless of whether they intended to take it. That creates a potential problem with supplements, because contamination or undeclared ingredients can sometimes occur during manufacturing. A product can look completely normal on shelf and still present a doping risk.

Sport Integrity Australia reported in 2025 that, of 200 non-batch-tested sports supplements purchased online and analysed, 35% contained one or more WADA-prohibited substances. In many cases, those substances were not declared on the product label.

Not every non-tested supplement is bound to be contaminated, but it does demonstrate why tested athletes should take the risk seriously.

What does “batch tested” actually mean?

A supplement is manufactured in batches, and each batch has its own identifying number. Batch testing involves a sample from a specific production batch being sent to an independent laboratory and screened for prohibited substances before that batch is considered lower risk for athletes.

That distinction matters because testing one version of a product once does not guarantee every future iteration of that product is also safe for tested athletes. It is important that you check the batch number on the product you actually have, rather than assuming that because a product has been tested in the past, the current batch is covered. Sport Integrity Australia specifically recommends checking the product and batch through the Sport Integrity App.

What does HASTA Certified mean?

HASTA stands for Human and Supplement Testing Australia. For a product to become HASTA Certified, the process goes beyond a one-off laboratory test. HASTA reviews the product formulation and the manufacturer's quality and GMP systems, and once a product is certified, every single batch is required to be tested for WADA-prohibited substances.

Only products meeting HASTA's certification requirements are permitted to use the HASTA Certified seal. Certified products and their tested batches can also be searched through HASTA and the Sport Integrity App, where athletes can match the batch number on their product against the tested batch.

What about Informed Sport?

Informed Sport serves a similar purpose for athletes by independently testing sports supplements for substances prohibited in sport. Sport Integrity Australia recognises both HASTA and Informed Sport as trusted third-party batch-testing organisations and recommends athletes look for products certified by either organisation when choosing supplements.

For an Australian athlete, the practical takeaway is to check that your specific product and batch are actually listed as having been tested, regardless of which certification system is used.

Batch testing doesn't prove the product works.

Another common misunderstanding is that a testing certification validates everything written on the label. It doesn't. HASTA specifically states that its testing is focused on screening for WADA-prohibited substances. It does not verify performance claims, nutritional claims or whether a product will improve your training. A product can be properly batch tested for prohibited substances, but you as the athlete will still need to check things like ingredients, dosage and whether it is actually useful for your sport.

How to check for testing certification.

If you are a tested athlete, or competing in a sport where anti-doping rules apply, the process should be pretty straightforward:

1. Look for the recognised HASTA Certified or Informed Sport logo.
2. Find the batch number printed on your actual product.
3. Check that exact batch in the Sport Integrity App.
4. Keep a record or screenshot of the batch check.
5. Recheck when you purchase a new batch (again, don't assume it is covered because your previous tub was tested).

Sport Integrity Australia recommends this process because the responsibility ultimately stays with the athlete.

What this means for athletes.

Batch testing gives athletes a much stronger level of assurance and can significantly reduce the risk compared with simply trusting the ingredient panel or buying a product because it is widely available. For tested athletes in particular, the meaningful difference is whether the specific product and specific batch you are holding has been independently screened.

 

References.

1. Human and Supplement Testing Australia. HASTA Certified. HASTA.
2. Sport Integrity Australia. Supplements in Sport.
3. Sport Integrity Australia. Sport Integrity App. Updated 16 February 2026.
4. Sport Integrity Australia. New supplement survey finds one in three products contain banned substances. 9 April 2025.
5. Sport Integrity Australia. Supplement risk analysis.
6. Sport Integrity Australia. Supplement safety in the spotlight again. 2026.