Picture this: George Kruis, England Rugby international with 45 caps, standing in his kitchen after a grueling training session. He’s exhausted. His muscles ache. And he’s reaching for a supplement he helped create.
This isn’t just another endorsement deal. Kruis co-founded Fourfive alongside fellow rugby professional Dom Day because they couldn’t find supplements that met their exacting standards. Professional athletes face unique challenges that most supplement companies simply don’t understand. Drug testing protocols. Recovery windows measured in hours, not days. The difference between 99% and 100% ingredient transparency.
When your career depends on what you put in your body, trust becomes everything.
The Athlete-Founded Advantage That Changes Everything
Professional athletes don’t just use Fourfive products. They built them.
George Kruis and his co-founders experienced firsthand the frustration of navigating a supplement market filled with questionable ingredients, inadequate testing, and marketing hype that didn’t match reality. Most supplement companies are started by marketers or business executives who’ve never faced anti-doping tests or needed to recover from professional-level training loads.
Fourfive flipped the script entirely.
The founders’ combined 150+ international caps across rugby union meant they understood precisely what athletes need. Not what marketing departments think athletes want. What they actually require to perform, recover, and compete at the highest levels while maintaining complete confidence in product safety.
This athlete-first DNA permeates every aspect of the company. Product development meetings include discussions about WADA compliance. Formulation decisions consider training periodization. Even the packaging reflects an understanding that athletes often need to dose supplements with cold, tired hands after training.
Consider the difference this makes:
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Traditional supplement companies guess at athlete needs
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Fourfive’s founders lived those needs for decades
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Every product addresses real problems they personally faced
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Testing protocols reflect the scrutiny professional athletes undergo
Laboratory Testing That Exceeds Professional Sport Requirements
Here’s something most people don’t realize about professional sports: athletes can be banned for substances they didn’t know they consumed.
A contaminated supplement can end a career instantly. No appeals. No second chances. This reality shapes everything about how Fourfive approaches product testing.
Every single batch undergoes comprehensive third-party testing that goes beyond industry standards. We’re talking about detection levels measured in parts per billion. The kind of precision that catches contamination other tests miss entirely.
The testing protocol includes:
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Full prohibited substance screening against WADA’s extensive banned list
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Heavy metal analysis to ensure purity
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Microbiological testing for safety
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Active ingredient verification to guarantee label accuracy
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Batch-specific certificates available for every product
Professional athletes using Fourfive products can access test results for their specific batch number. Not generic certificates. Not promises. Actual laboratory data for the exact product in their hands.
This transparency matters enormously when you’re subject to random drug testing. Athletes have shared stories of keeping batch certificates in their kit bags, ready to show coaches or compliance officers at a moment’s notice. That’s the level of confidence required at professional levels.
Scientific Formulation Backed by Peer-Reviewed Research
Scientists formulated every Fourfive product. Not marketers with chemistry degrees. Actual scientists who understand bioavailability, synergistic interactions, and optimal dosing protocols.
Take the hydration tablets as an example. The formulation team didn’t just throw together electrolytes and call it done. They analyzed sweat composition data from professional athletes, studied absorption rates at different exercise intensities, and optimized the sodium-to-potassium ratio based on current sports science research.
The result? A hydration product that actually matches what athletes lose during training and competition.
This scientific rigor extends across the entire product line:
CBD oils utilise specific carrier oils chosen for their absorption profiles, not just cost-effectiveness. The concentration levels reflect therapeutic doses established in clinical research, not arbitrary marketing numbers.
Functional mushroom supplements incorporate extraction methods that maximize bioactive compounds. Lion’s Mane isn’t just ground up and packaged. It’s extracted using dual-extraction processes that concentrate the compounds actually linked to cognitive benefits.
Recovery formulations combine ingredients with complementary mechanisms of action. Timing recommendations come from chronobiology research. Dosing reflects what studies show actually works, not what sounds impressive on a label.
Athletes notice the difference. Recovery feels more complete. Energy levels stabilize rather than spike. Performance improvements are sustainable, not temporary.
Informed Sport Certification: The Gold Standard of Supplement Safety
Informed Sport certification isn’t just another logo on the package. It represents the most rigorous third-party testing program in sports nutrition.
Less than 2% of global supplement brands achieve this certification. The process involves:
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Random product sampling from retail locations
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ISO 17025-accredited laboratory analysis
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Testing for over 250 prohibited substances
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Ongoing monitoring and surprise audits
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Public database verification for every batch
For professional athletes, Informed Sport certification removes the guesswork. Teams and governing bodies recognize it. Insurance policies often require it. Some athletes won’t even consider products without it.
Fourfive’s commitment to maintaining this certification across multiple product lines demonstrates a level of dedication that goes beyond profit margins. The testing alone costs thousands of pounds monthly. Many companies skip it entirely or certify one token product.
Yet every athlete knows that one contaminated supplement can trigger a positive test. Career over. Reputation destroyed. Years of training wasted.
That’s why professional athletes gravitate toward Fourfive. The certification provides peace of mind that no marketing claim can match.
Real Athletes, Real Results: Performance Stories from the Field
Sarah Mitchell, a British marathon runner, discovered Fourfive’s hydration sachets during altitude training in Kenya. The portability meant she could maintain proper electrolyte balance during long runs in remote locations. Her performance improvements were measurable: a 3-minute personal best and qualification for international competition.
These aren’t paid testimonials. They’re unsolicited feedback from athletes who found products that actually delivered.
The stories share common themes:
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Measurable performance improvements
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Confidence in product safety
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Noticeable recovery benefits
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Consistency in product quality
Professional cyclists report better power output sustainability during stage races. Rugby players experience reduced muscle soreness between matches. Runners maintain better hydration status during ultra-distance events.
What makes these stories credible is their specificity. Athletes don’t just say products are “great” or “amazing.” They cite specific metrics. Recovery time reduced by 20%. Sleep quality scores improved by 15%. Inflammation markers decreased significantly in post-training blood work.
Vegan, Ethical, and Sustainable: Values That Matter to Modern Athletes
Today’s professional athletes care about more than just performance. They’re increasingly conscious about environmental impact, animal welfare, and ethical sourcing.
Fourfive recognized this shift early. Every product is:
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100% vegan with no animal-derived ingredients
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Cruelty-free with zero animal testing
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Packaged using recyclable materials where possible
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Sourced from suppliers meeting ethical standards
This isn’t greenwashing or token environmentalism. The commitment runs deep.
CBD comes from organic hemp farms using regenerative agriculture practices. Mushroom cultivation partners employ sustainable growing methods. Even the choice of tablet binding agents considered environmental impact.
Athletes appreciate this holistic approach. Emma Thompson, a professional triathlete and environmental advocate, specifically chose Fourfive because the values aligned with her platform. She could promote products without compromising her advocacy work.
Young athletes especially connect with brands demonstrating genuine environmental responsibility. They want peak performance without contributing to problems they’ll inherit. Fourfive provides that option.
Comprehensive Product Range Addressing Every Athletic Need
Professional athletes don’t just need one supplement. They need comprehensive nutritional support across training phases, competition periods, and recovery cycles.
Fourfive’s product range reflects this reality:
Hydration Solutions: Tablets and sachets formulated for different scenarios. Training hydration differs from competition needs. Travel hydration requires portability. The range addresses each situation specifically.
CBD Products: Oils for systemic support, muscle rubs for targeted relief, joint gels for specific problem areas. Different delivery methods serve different purposes. Athletes can choose based on their specific needs rather than making do with one-size-fits-all solutions.
Functional Mushrooms: Cordyceps for endurance, Lion’s Mane for focus, Reishi for recovery. Each mushroom serves a specific purpose backed by research. Athletes can target specific performance aspects rather than hoping generic multivitamins help.
Energy and Focus Gummies: Convenient, precisely dosed, and formulated to avoid the crash associated with many energy products. Perfect for pre-competition without risking stomach upset.
This comprehensive approach means athletes can build complete supplement protocols from a single, trusted source. No mixing and matching from different companies with varying quality standards. No wondering whether products will interact negatively.
Transparent Pricing Without the Celebrity Markup
Here’s an industry secret: most athlete-endorsed supplements carry massive markup to cover endorsement fees.
Fourfive operates differently. The athletes aren’t paid endorsers. They’re owners. This fundamental difference eliminates the celebrity tax that inflates prices across the industry.
Professional athletes operating on tight budgets appreciate this approach. Young athletes without major sponsorship deals can access the same quality as established stars. The democratization of quality supplements supports athlete development at all levels.
Price transparency extends to explaining cost factors. Lab testing isn’t hidden in margins. Certification costs are acknowledged. Athletes understand exactly what they’re paying for.
Value comparisons reveal the difference:
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Comparable certified products often cost 40-50% more
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Non-certified alternatives might seem cheaper but lack crucial safety guarantees
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The cost per effective dose often favors Fourfive when accounting for bioavailability
Education and Support Beyond the Product
Fourfive doesn’t just sell supplements. The company provides comprehensive education about nutrition, recovery, and performance optimization.
The website features detailed guides about:
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Optimal supplement timing
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Interaction between supplements and training phases
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Recovery protocols for different sports
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Hydration strategies for various climates
This educational component reflects the founders’ understanding that supplements work best within comprehensive training programs. A hydration tablet can’t overcome poor overall nutrition. CBD won’t compensate for inadequate sleep.
Athletes receive support through:
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Detailed dosing guidelines based on body weight and training intensity
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Sport-specific recommendations developed with professional coaches
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Access to the latest research translated into practical applications
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Direct communication channels for specific questions
Professional teams have partnered with Fourfive for educational workshops. Nutritionists recommend the resources to their athlete clients. The commitment to education builds trust beyond any marketing campaign.
The Technology and Innovation Pipeline
Standing still means falling behind in professional sports. Fourfive’s innovation pipeline ensures products evolve alongside sports science understanding.
Current development projects include:
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Personalised hydration formulas based on individual sweat testing
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Time-release CBD formulations for overnight recovery
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Novel mushroom extraction techniques improving bioavailability
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Sustainable packaging innovations reducing environmental impact
Athletes participating in product development provide real-world feedback. Beta testing happens during actual training camps. Formulation adjustments reflect genuine athletic needs rather than laboratory theories.
This innovation commitment attracts forward-thinking athletes. They want partners invested in continuous improvement. Products that will evolve as their careers progress. Support that adapts to changing needs.
The research partnerships with universities ensure scientific validity. Collaboration with sports science institutes provides performance data. The innovation process combines academic rigor with practical application.
Building Long-Term Athlete Relationships
Trust isn’t built through single transactions. It develops over years of consistent quality and support.
Fourfive’s athlete relationships span entire careers. Junior athletes who started using products in academy systems continue through professional ranks. Retired athletes become brand ambassadors, sharing their experiences with the next generation.
The company maintains these relationships through:
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Consistent product quality that never wavers
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Responsive customer service that understands athletic timelines
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Flexibility in supporting athletes through different career phases
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Recognition that athlete needs change over time
Long-term athletes report never experiencing batch inconsistency. Products ordered years apart maintain identical quality. This reliability matters when supplement routines become integral to training programs.
The relationships extend beyond transactions. Athletes consult on new products. They provide feedback on packaging changes. Their insights shape company direction.
Why Trust Matters More Than Marketing
Professional athletes see through marketing immediately. They’ve been pitched countless products promising miraculous results. Experience teaches them that trust must be earned through consistency, transparency, and genuine quality.
Fourfive earned that trust by:
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Never compromising on testing standards even when costly
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Maintaining transparency even when competitors don’t
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Prioritizing athlete safety over profit margins
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Delivering consistent results without exaggeration
Athletes talk to each other. They share experiences in training camps, on social media, in locker rooms. Word spreads quickly about products that deliver and even faster about those that don’t.
The organic growth of Fourfive’s athlete network reflects this reality. No massive advertising campaigns. No celebrity endorsement deals. Just athletes telling other athletes about products that work.
Trust compounds over time. Each positive experience reinforces confidence. Each batch certificate maintains credibility. Each successful drug test validates the commitment to safety.
Professional athletes choose Fourfive because the company operates like they do: with discipline, consistency, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. In a market full of shortcuts and compromises, that approach stands out.
The question isn’t really why professional athletes trust Fourfive. It’s why they’d trust anyone else.