24/04/09 Specialist supplier of whey protein to the sport nutrition marketplace, Volac, has become the first raw ingredients supplier to gain the INFORMED-SPORT Standard, which provides athletes with reassurance that products have undergone rigorous testing against substances banned by WADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency.

INFORMED-SPORT is a supplement testing programme, designed to test supplements and / or their ingredients for inadvertent contamination with substances prohibited in sport.

Research has shown that some supplement products have been found to be contaminated with low levels of steroids and stimulants that are prohibited by WADA. The INFORMED-SPORT programme aims to work closely with supplement manufacturers and suppliers, such as Volac, by providing high quality analytical testing to minimise the incidence of banned contaminants finding their way into sport.

Contaminants for WADA include elements which are legal and acceptable in standard food production

Mark Neville, Marketing Manager, Dairy & Lifestyle Ingredients, Volac, comments: “While Volac has over 40 years experience in specialist whey protein production, and over ten specifically in the sports nutrition market, we are never complacent.  Testing has always been rigorous but by meeting the highly sensitive testing requirements of INFORMED-SPORT, which adds sector specific assurance way beyond those of standard quality assurance controls, our customers and more importantly their customers – the athletes - can be reassured that even trace substances in batches of our Volactive range of whey protein concentrates and isolates would be identified.”

Dr David Hall, INFORMED-SPORT, comments: “Strict liability refers to a ruling that athletes are singularly responsible for anything that is found within their body.  So whether it was a coach, dietician, parent or friend that recommended an element of a diet, it is the athlete that is ultimately punished by WADA for a doping violation.  By purchasing products bearing the INFORMED-SPORT logo the athlete knows that the manufacturer has to meet a defined specification based on the very best scientific expertise.”

It is not possible for INFORMED-SPORT to provide a 100% guarantee that any supplement is totally free of contamination – to do so would mean testing 100% of every batch manufactured (impractical), and at detection levels that are far from economic.  Analysis can only indicate that no contamination could be found within the sample that was analysed, for specified substances, at carefully defined, statistically relevant levels of detection.

It therefore becomes a matter of risk reduction – an athlete at least knows that they are taking a supplement from a manufacturer that is subjected to credible sports testing and appropriate WADA-related manufacturing controls, rather than none at all.

Protein is needed for every biological process in the body, including the maintenance of lean muscle. A moderate amount of physical training requires 1-1.6g of protein (per kg of body weight) per day and high volume intense training can require as much as 2g of protein per kg, per day.
The optimum time for protein intake is after or during exercise, since research has shown that protein plays a very important role in muscle recovery.  Whey protein is often referred to as a ‘fast’ protein due to its efficient absorption capability into the system and its ability to provide rapid nourishment to help muscles recover after exercise.  It is the richest dietary source of branched chain amino acids (BCAA) including for example, leucine, which stands out for its ability to stimulate muscle protein synthesis. It is also one of the richest sources of essential amino acids which are required for overall muscle protein synthesis.

Whey protein’s high amino acid score, high digestibility, solubility and convenience, combine together to make it a highly favoured and convenient source of natural protein for those engaging in intense physical activity.