Informed Sport certifies every single batch of a supplement for substances prohibited in sport by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) before it reaches the shelf. For most casual UK runners, it is the highest purity assurance available on the market. If you are buying magnesium bisglycinate for muscle recovery and sleep, and you want the strongest independent guarantee that what is in the capsule matches what is on the label, choose a product carrying the Informed Sport mark. Runcomplete’s Ready magnesium is made in the UK and is formulated specifically for everyday runners.
Table of Contents
- What Informed Sport is and how the programme actually works
- What Informed Sport actually tests for, and where its limits are
- How to verify your batch on the Informed Sport database
- Does an everyday runner in the UK actually need Informed Sport certification?
- Practical checklist for choosing magnesium bisglycinate as a runner
- What to do before you buy: a quick pre-purchase check
- Key takeaways
- Why purity matters more than the logo
- Ready magnesium for runners: built around the checklist
- Useful sources
What Informed Sport is and how the programme actually works
Informed Sport is an independent quality assurance programme run by LGC, a global science and testing company with decades of anti-doping experience. The programme exists because standard manufacturing regulations alone cannot always prevent cross-contamination between production runs. By combining facility audits with pre-release batch testing, it shifts the burden of proof from the athlete to the manufacturer.
The certification pathway has four stages:
- Manufacturer review: the facility’s quality systems and processes are assessed before any products are accepted onto the programme.
- Pre-certification sample testing: initial samples are screened using ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory methods at LGC.
- Certification and listing: once approved, the product and brand appear on the public Informed Sport database.
- Ongoing batch testing plus blind retail testing: every subsequent batch is tested before release, and products are also purchased from retail and tested without warning.
INFORMED, the parent programme, has tested more than 230,000 samples for over 900 companies. That scale matters because it means the testing protocols are battle-hardened, not theoretical.
Informed Sport vs Informed Choice: the key difference is testing frequency. Informed Sport tests every batch pre-release. Informed Choice uses a monthly blind-testing schedule, which means not every batch is individually cleared before it goes on sale. For drug-tested athletes, that distinction is significant.
Stat to know: the programme screens for more than 285 substances prohibited in sport.
What Informed Sport actually tests for, and where its limits are
The screening covers a broad range of prohibited substance classes: anabolic steroids, stimulants, selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs), diuretics, beta-blockers, peptide hormones, and more. If a substance appears on the WADA prohibited list, it is within scope.
What the certification does not do is equally worth understanding. It is not a blanket safety or efficacy guarantee. It does not mean a product is medically effective, free of every possible contaminant beyond the prohibited list, or suitable for any specific health condition. Informed Sport also will not accept cannabinoid-containing products onto the programme, including CBD, THC, and hemp protein.
Some brands carry out isolated batch tests without joining a full certification programme. That is better than nothing, but it lacks the ongoing facility oversight and controlled retail sampling that Informed Sport provides.
Contamination context: research cited by Informed Sport found that product contamination accounted for a notable proportion of anti-doping violations between 2005 and 2022. For elite athletes, that risk has career-ending consequences. For casual runners, the personal stakes are lower, but the contamination risk itself is real regardless of competitive level.
Pro Tip: Certification applies at batch level, not product level. A product being listed on the Informed Sport database does not automatically mean your specific unit has been tested. Always verify the batch number.
How to verify your batch on the Informed Sport database
Checking your exact batch takes under two minutes. Here is how:
- Find the batch number on your product packaging, usually printed near the best-before date or on the base of the bottle.
- Go to the Informed Sport website at sport.wetestyoutrust.com and navigate to the product search or batch verification tool.
- Search by brand name to find the product listing, then enter your batch number in the batch lookup field.
- Review the result. A verified batch will show a certificate confirming the test date, the batch reference, and the product name.
- Save the evidence. Screenshot the certificate or note the batch reference alongside your purchase receipt.
The batch lookup is the only way to confirm that your specific unit passed testing. Seeing the Informed Sport logo on the packaging is a good sign, but it is not sufficient on its own.
Pro Tip: Keep your verification screenshot with a photo of the product label. If you ever have a query about a supplement, having that evidence ready saves time.
Does an everyday runner in the UK actually need Informed Sport certification?
Honestly, it depends on your situation. The programme was designed primarily for elite athletes and drug-tested personnel, where a contamination finding can end a career. For a casual runner doing a weekend parkrun or training for a local 10K, the personal consequences of a contaminated supplement are very different.
That said, contamination in the supplement industry is not a theoretical risk. Product contamination was responsible for around 8% of anti-doping violations between 2005 and 2022, and it affects products sold to general consumers, not just elite athletes.
When Informed Sport certification is worth prioritising:
- You compete in events that carry anti-doping testing.
- You work in a profession with drug-testing requirements (military, emergency services, professional sport).
- You simply want the strongest available assurance and are comfortable paying a modest premium for it.
When it may be optional: if you are a recreational runner with no testing obligations, a product from a reputable UK manufacturer with transparent third-party testing and a certificate of analysis (COA) available on request can offer solid reassurance without necessarily carrying the full Informed Sport mark.
Pro Tip: Whatever you buy, ask the brand directly for a COA or batch test report. A brand that cannot or will not provide one is a brand worth avoiding.
Practical checklist for choosing magnesium bisglycinate as a runner
| Criterion | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Form | Magnesium bisglycinate (also called magnesium glycinate) for superior absorption and gentler digestion |
| Elemental magnesium per serving | Typically 100–200 mg elemental magnesium per daily dose for recovery and sleep support |
| Excipients and fillers | Avoid magnesium stearate, artificial colours, and unnecessary bulking agents |
| Vegetarian/vegan status | Look for a capsule shell confirmed as plant-based if this matters to you |
| Country of manufacture | UK-made products are subject to MHRA-regulated Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards |
| Third-party testing | Informed Sport certification or, at minimum, a COA from an accredited laboratory |
| Batch verification | Confirm the specific batch is listed and tested before purchasing |
Elemental magnesium is the actual mineral content, not the total weight of the compound. Magnesium bisglycinate is roughly 14% elemental magnesium by weight, so a 700 mg capsule delivers around 100 mg of elemental magnesium. Check the label carefully, as some brands list the compound weight rather than the elemental figure.
For running recovery and sleep, a daily dose in the range of 200–300 mg elemental magnesium is commonly used, taken in the evening.
What to do before you buy: a quick pre-purchase check
- Check for the Informed Sport mark on the label and verify the batch number on the official database before completing your purchase.
- Request a COA if the product does not carry a recognised certification mark. A legitimate brand will have one available.
- Read the ingredients list in full. If you cannot identify what a filler or excipient is, look it up or ask the brand.
- Confirm the country of manufacture. UK-made supplements are produced under MHRA GMP oversight, which sets a clear baseline for quality.
- Check the elemental magnesium figure, not just the total capsule weight.
- Contact the brand if anything is unclear. Response time and transparency tell you a great deal about how seriously a company takes quality.
Key takeaways
Informed Sport certification is the strongest independent purity assurance available for UK supplement buyers, but casual runners should weigh the cost against their actual risk profile before making it a hard requirement.
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Every-batch testing | Informed Sport tests each batch before release, covering more than 285 WADA-prohibited substances. |
| Batch lookup is essential | The Informed Sport logo on a pack is not enough — verify your specific batch number on the official database. |
| Contamination is a real risk | Research found product contamination was responsible for around 8% of anti-doping violations between 2005 and 2022. |
| Casual runners have options | A UK-made product with a COA from an accredited lab offers solid reassurance even without full Informed Sport certification. |
| Runcomplete Ready | Ready magnesium bisglycinate is UK-made, filler-free, and COA information is available on request. |
Why purity matters more than the logo
The supplement industry has a marketing problem. Brands plaster certification logos across packaging as though the mark itself is the product. What actually matters is the process behind it: whether every batch was tested, whether the facility was audited, and whether you can verify your specific unit.
Informed Sport gets this right. The batch-level verification model means the assurance is specific and traceable, not just a general claim about a product line. For runners, that specificity is what you are paying for.
Where I think casual runners sometimes go wrong is treating certification as binary. Either a product has the Informed Sport mark, or it is suspect. The reality is more nuanced. A UK-made magnesium bisglycinate from a brand that publishes COAs, uses an accredited laboratory, and responds transparently to questions about testing can be a perfectly sound choice. The Informed Sport mark is the gold standard, but it is not the only credible signal of quality.
What I would never do is buy a supplement that cannot produce any testing evidence at all. No COA, no third-party screen, no batch data. That is where the real risk sits, not in the gap between Informed Sport and Informed Choice.
Ready magnesium for runners: built around the checklist
Runcomplete’s Ready magnesium bisglycinate was formulated specifically for everyday runners, not gym-goers or elite athletes. It is made in the UK under GMP-regulated conditions, contains no unnecessary fillers, and is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Every ingredient decision in Ready was made with recovery and sleep in mind. The bisglycinate form was chosen for its absorption profile and its gentler effect on digestion compared with cheaper magnesium oxide formulations. Batch testing information and COA details are available on request directly from Runcomplete.
Ready comes with a 30-day guarantee, so there is no risk in trying it. You can purchase as a one-off or on a monthly subscription, whichever suits your routine. Visit the Ready product page to check the current formulation, read the label in full, and place your order.
Useful sources
- Informed Sport: batch search and certification overview
- Informed Sport: frequently asked questions
- Informed Sport: certification process
- INFORMED: parent programme and lab credentials
- Runcomplete Ready: magnesium bisglycinate for runners
- Runcomplete: supplements for running recovery
Recommended
- Supplements for Running Injury Prevention: A UK Guide for Everyday Run – Run Complete
- Great North Run 2026: Your Race-Day Nutrition Guide (Training to Taper – Run Complete
- Fasted Running: Benefits, Risks and Practical Advice for Runners – Run Complete
- Natural Sleep Aids for Runners: Rest Better and Run Stronger in 2026 – Run Complete
