Supplements for Drug-Tested Athletes: How to Choose Safely in Australia
If you are a drug-tested athlete in Australia, the safest supplement is one you genuinely need, that has been batch tested by an independent program such as HASTA or Informed Sport, and whose batch number you have checked yourself. Even then, Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) says no supplement is 100 per cent safe, and under anti-doping rules you are strictly liable for anything found in your system.
What strict liability means for you
SIA states that under anti-doping rules, athletes are strictly liable for any substance found in their system. You are responsible for everything that goes into your body, including what is in your shaker.
SIA warns that prohibited compounds found in supplements could trigger a positive test and a sanction, and that in many cases athletes would have no way of knowing what they were taking.
Why supplements are a risk for tested athletes
In 2022, SIA commissioned Human and Supplement Testing Australia (HASTA) to buy and analyse 200 sports supplements sold online in Australia. The findings, released in April 2025, showed:
- 35%, about one in three, contained one or more substances prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
- 57% of those positive products did not list the prohibited ingredient on the packaging or website.
- Products marketed as pre-workouts, fat burners and muscle builders were the most likely to be contaminated.
SIA points to cross-contamination during manufacturing and undeclared ingredients. Many substances found were naturally occurring, and Athletics Australia notes that "all natural" or "herbal" marketing does not mean a product is safer.
The good news: SIA reports supplement-related positive cases fell from 17 in 2016 to one in 2024, helped by the Sport Integrity app and education.
The AIS Sports Supplement Framework: Groups A to D
The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) sorts supplement ingredients by evidence and doping risk. It rates ingredients, not brands, so a Group A ingredient can still come in a contaminated product.
| Group | What it means (AIS) | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| A | Strong scientific evidence for use in specific situations in sport, using evidence-based protocols. | Creatine monohydrate, caffeine, isolated protein, electrolyte supplements |
| B | Emerging scientific support, deserving of further research. Considered for use under a research protocol or case-managed monitoring. | Fish oil, collagen, vitamin C |
| C | Evidence does not support a benefit for athletes, or no research has been done to guide an informed opinion. | BCAAs, HMB, magnesium (as magnesium oxide) |
| D | Banned or at high risk of contamination with substances that could lead to a positive doping test. Not to be used by athletes. | DMAA, SARMs such as ostarine, higenamine, tribulus and other testosterone boosters |
Some Group D items, such as tribulus, are not on the WADA list, but the AIS says they often turn up in multi-ingredient products with banned ingredients or a high contamination risk. The AIS also recommends talking to a sports dietitian before using any supplement. For Group A basics, see our guides to the best creatine in Australia, how to take creatine, the best protein powder and the best electrolytes. A "best of" pick is not the same as batch tested, so always check.
What batch testing is, and what it is not
Batch testing means an independent laboratory tests each production batch for prohibited substances before it reaches the shelf. The batch (or lot) number on the tub lets you check that your exact batch was tested.
SIA's Director of Research put it plainly: "While no supplement is 100 per cent safe, batch-tested products significantly reduce the risk of contamination." HASTA agrees that no testing can guarantee a batch is completely contamination free.
| Program | How it works | How to check |
|---|---|---|
| HASTA | Australian, run by Racing Analytical Services Limited. Once certified, every batch must be tested. Screens for over 250 WADA prohibited substances. | HASTA certified supplement search (brand, product or batch number) |
| Informed Sport | Every batch is tested before release, plus blind retail testing. Built for elite athletes and drug-tested personnel. | Informed Sport website search or app |
| Informed Choice | Blind retail testing of at least 12 lots a year. Not every batch is guaranteed to be tested. Aimed at active people who are not under elite doping control. | Informed Choice website |
Informed Choice is a useful quality signal, but it does not guarantee your specific batch was tested. Athletics Australia also notes that not every company batch tests every product in its range, so check the exact product, not just the brand.
How to check a product before you use it
- Search the batch number from your tub on the HASTA or Informed Sport site and make sure the product and batch both match.
- Use the free Sport Integrity app. SIA says it lists more than 12,000 batch-tested supplements sold in Australia and lets you check a product you already own.
- Use Global DRO for medications only. SIA provides Global DRO to check medicines, but it contains no information on dietary supplements.
- Keep evidence. The International Testing Agency advises keeping proof of batch testing, so save a screenshot of the certificate, your receipt and the label.
Red-flag ingredients and label words
- "Proprietary blend", "extreme focus blend" or "testosterone boosting". The International Testing Agency says these labels may indicate greater risk.
- "Legal steroids", "legal prohormones" or "for research purposes only". Operation Supplement Safety lists these as warning signs.
- DMAA and DMHA. DMAA (methylhexaneamine, 1,3-dimethylamylamine) and DMHA (octodrine, 1,5-dimethylhexylamine) are stimulants on the WADA Prohibited List, banned in competition. DMAA is also AIS Group D.
- SARMs, higenamine and "test boosters". Ostarine, ligandrol, andarine and higenamine all sit in AIS Group D.
- Chemical-style names. USADA says ingredients ending in "-ol", "-one", "-amine" or "-stene", or numbers paired with Greek letters, can signal steroids or stimulants.
Your checklist before buying
- Do I actually need this, or can food do the job? A sports dietitian can help.
- Is the main ingredient AIS Group A? Is anything in it Group D?
- Is it HASTA or Informed Sport certified, and is my exact batch listed?
- Is the label simple, with clear amounts and no proprietary blends or steroid-style claims?
- Have I saved the batch certificate, receipt and label?
- Does my sport or federation have extra rules I need to follow?
If you have a medical condition, are pregnant or take medication, check with your doctor before starting any supplement.
Natural bodybuilding federations have their own rules
Supps247 was a major sponsor of ICN Victoria 2026. Natural federations such as ICN (I Compete Natural) set their own drug-free rules and testing, which may not match the WADA list exactly. HASTA screens for WADA prohibited substances, so read your federation's current rules and ask them directly about any ingredient you are unsure of.
How Supps247 can help
Drop into any of our 18 stores (find yours on the store locator) and our team can help you compare labels side by side. You can also order online with Australia-wide delivery or use click and collect. New to supplements? Try our beginner's guide.
We cannot guarantee that any product is safe for drug testing, so always confirm your exact batch with the certifier or the Sport Integrity app.
FAQs
What are HASTA supplements?
They are products certified by Human and Supplement Testing Australia. Every batch of a certified product must be tested for over 250 WADA prohibited substances, and you can search HASTA's list by brand, product or batch number.
Is Informed Sport recognised in Australia?
Yes. SIA names Informed Sport, along with HASTA, as independent batch testing athletes should look for. Every batch is tested before release, and you can confirm yours on its website or app.
Can a batch tested supplement still cause a positive test?
It is possible. SIA says no supplement is 100 per cent safe. Batch testing significantly reduces the risk, but you remain strictly liable for anything in your system.
Can I check supplements on the Sport Integrity app or Global DRO?
The free Sport Integrity app lists more than 12,000 batch-tested supplements sold in Australia. Global DRO only checks medications, not dietary supplements.
Is creatine safe for drug tested athletes?
Creatine monohydrate is AIS Group A. That rating covers the ingredient, not a brand, so choose a HASTA or Informed Sport certified product and check your batch number.
Sources: Sport Integrity Australia, supplement survey (April 2025); AIS Group A; AIS, Group B; AIS, Group C; AIS, Group D; HASTA; Informed Sport vs Informed Choice; Global DRO FAQ; ITA Supplements Quick Guide; Operation Supplement Safety; USADA, supplement risk; USADA, octodrine; WADA S6 Stimulants (via Drugs.com); Athletics Australia Supplement Policy 2026.
