Committed to ethical principles in amateur and professional sports

Principia Athletica is an independent certification program dedicated to supporting clean and fair sport. Our mission is to reduce the risk of inadvertent doping by providing transparent, science-based testing of sports products.

We work with responsible supplement brands that share our commitment to athlete protection, product integrity, and transparency. By participating in the program, brands demonstrate their dedication to high manufacturing standards and to helping athletes make informed choices.

Principia Athletica aims to strengthen trust between athletes, teams, and supplement manufacturers by establishing clear principles, independent verification, and continuous improvement in anti-doping risk management.

Program purpose

The program aims to reduce the risk of inadvertent doping from contaminated produts by combining:

  • independent laboratory testing
  • risk-based surveillance
  • transparent certification rules

Certification indicates that tested batches did not contain selected doping-relevant substances as defined in the testing protocols.

Brand Eligibility Requirements

Before testing begins, brands must provide:

  • product composition
  • product label
  • proof of European production
  • batch traceability proof

This prevents testing products from uncontrolled supply chains.

Certification Decision

A batch receives certification when:

  • no prohibited substances are detected above defined limits
  • documentation requirements are met
  • no compliance issues are identified.

Certificates are valid for: 12 months or until the batch is exhausted.

Non-Compliance Handling

If a prohibited substance is detected:

  • Certification is immediately suspended
  • Manufacturer is notified
  • Confirmatory testing may occur
  • Market recall if “Principia Athletica” logo is applied

Repeated violations may lead to program exclusion.

Product Risk Classification

Products are categorized based on available data to optimize testing resources and exclude high risk formulations.

High-risk products

pre-workout formulas

fat burners

hormone boosters

Medium-risk products

creatine blends

amino acid products

recovery formulas

Low-risk products

whey protein

simple carbohydrate drinks

single minerals

Yearly Participation Fees

500€ participation fee

 up to 3 products listed in the PA database

+ 200€ per additional or updated product

Trademark usage on label and product pages:

+200€ per product

Testing costs for basic screening: ~325€ per test

Special conditions for Startups: 300€ participation fee + unlimited database access

Startup = company younger than 3 years or annual revenue below 75K€.
For products with flavors, each flavor is subject to testing.
All costs are excl. VAT

Join us and make a difference.

Code of Ethics Participation Agreement Testing Protocol