U.S. Sports Pharmacy Group

What U.S. Sports Pharmacy Group does

U.S. Sports Pharmacy Group (USSPG) is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in November 2020 by Athena Cannon and formally registered in Minnesota in August 2022. Headquartered in Minneapolis, it operates as a membership-based community of pharmacy professionals, students, residents, allied health providers, athletes, and coaches focused on advancing sports pharmacy as a specialized field. Its mission centers on educating the sports medicine community about the pharmacist's role in optimizing performance, anti-doping compliance, and interdisciplinary care of patient-athletes.

USSPG's core offerings include: (1) the unifying definition of Sports Pharmacy developed through the Define Sports Pharmacy Taskforce and adopted by international organizations; (2) the Team Pharmacist Certificate Program, an 8-hour ACPE-accredited online certificate for licensed U.S. pharmacists; (3) a library of educational resources on anti-doping and supplement safety; (4) monthly webinars, Collaborative Conversations, and an Annual Meeting (next scheduled February 28, 2026); and (5) the Youth Clean Sport Education initiative co-developed with Drug Free Sport International. The underlying technology is a Squarespace-based website used for membership management, event registration, and content delivery; content is distributed via the website, WebEx virtual events, LinkedIn, Instagram, and email newsletters. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and operates with a 1-10 person footprint plus committee structures.

USSPG's business model is subscription/membership-based, with six tiers ranging from free (allied health, athletes, coaches, international students) up to $100/year (pharmacists and pharmacy researchers). Revenue is supplemented by donations via PayPal and (potentially) Team Pharmacist Certificate fees. Growth is community-led, driven by volunteer engagement, monthly programming, and partnerships with the American Pharmacists Association, USC, Wingate University, International Sports Pharmacy Network, and Drug Free Sport International. Membership currently spans 34 US states, 12 countries, and 7 continents, with over 100 members, and the organization claims to be the largest sports pharmacy non-profit in the United States and internationally.

Name

U.S. Sports Pharmacy Group

Legal name

U.S. Sports Pharmacy Group

Website

https://www.ussportspharmacy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Sports Pharmacy Education

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Compliance, Governance & Integrity Services (Safeguarding, Anti-Doping, Match Integrity) (MPAKAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sports Medicine (HLAKALAB)

Keywords

• Sports pharmacy education
• Pharmacy professional membership
• Anti-doping training
• Athletic healthcare resources
• Pharmacy continuing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from pharmacists, students, pharmacy residents/fellows, allied health professionals, athletes, coaches, and international members. As a 501c3 registered non-profit, all membership dues directly support the organization's mission and vision.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

U.S. Sports Pharmacy Group is a 501c3 non-profit membership organization that delivers sports pharmacy education, training, and professional community resources to pharmacists, students, athletes, and coaches. Core offerings include tiered membership, an ACPE-accredited Team Pharmacist Certificate program, anti-doping educational resources, monthly webinars, an annual meeting, and the unifying Sports Pharmacy Definition framework.

Product overview

U.S. Sports Pharmacy Group (USSPG) is a 501c3 non-profit organization offering a portfolio of educational products and services focused on advancing sports pharmacy in the United States. The core offerings include the Sports Pharmacy Definition (a unifying framework created through the Define Sports Pharmacy Taskforce), the Team Pharmacist Certificate Program (an 8-hour ACPE-accredited training), comprehensive Educational Resources (anti-doping materials, reference documents, downloadable resources), and Youth Clean Sport Education materials developed with Drug Free Sport International. The organization also provides recurring programming through monthly Webinars and Events, and offers membership tiers that grant access to professional development, networking, and leadership opportunities for pharmacists, students, allied health professionals, and athletes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• USSPG Membership Tiered annual membership program for pharmacists, researchers, students, residents, allied health professionals, athletes, coaches, and international members. Includes access to monthly events, networking, educational resources, and leadership opportunities.
• Team Pharmacist Certificate Program An 8-hour ACPE-accredited online certificate program for licensed U.S. pharmacists and pharmacy students covering anti-doping awareness, WADA Prohibited List interpretation, and pharmacist roles in athlete care.
• Sports Pharmacy Definition A unifying definition of sports pharmacy created through the Define Sports Pharmacy Taskforce, providing a standardized understanding of sports pharmacy as a specialized field adopted by international organizations.
• Educational Resources Comprehensive educational materials including anti-doping resources, sports pharmacy reference documents, downloadable resources (OTC Pain Medications Reference, Dietary Supplement Facts Bookmark), and training materials vetted by USSPG leaders.
• Webinars and Events Monthly educational webinars, collaborative conversations, annual meetings, and networking events covering sports pharmacy topics, including member-only content on topics like dietary supplements, anti-doping policies, and sports pharmacy practice.
• Youth Clean Sport Education Free educational handout developed with Drug Free Sport International designed for middle school and high school students on safe medication and dietary supplement use in sports.

Quantifiable outcome

• Led the passage of new and updated anti-doping policy language within APhA's Policy Manual at the 2025 APhA Annual Meeting
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Drug Free Sport InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSSPG is collaborating with Drug Free Sport International to provide FREE dietary supplement education to middle school and high school students who may be active in sports. This partnership includes the Youth Clean Sport Education initiative with downloadable educational handouts for doctors' offices and schools with youth athletes.
• International Sports Pharmacy NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization for the USSPG Define Sports Pharmacy Taskforce definition. The International Sports Pharmacy Network supports the unifying definition of Sports Pharmacy created by USSPG.
• University of Southern CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization for the USSPG Define Sports Pharmacy Taskforce definition. USC has developed a sports pharmacy certificate program and Michael Kessler serves as Sports Pharmacist for the USC Department of Athletic Medicine.
• Wingate UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization for the USSPG Define Sports Pharmacy Taskforce definition. Wingate University supports the unifying definition of Sports Pharmacy.
• Sports RX NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting organization for the USSPG Define Sports Pharmacy Taskforce definition. Sports RX Network supports the unifying definition of Sports Pharmacy.
• The Taylor Hooton FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization that shares similar missions regarding education on clean sport and anti-doping awareness. Collaboration supports the organization's goals of promoting athlete health and safety.
• American Pharmacists Association (APhA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSSPG members (Athena Cannon, Mitch Howard, Amanda Ward) led efforts that resulted in the passage of new and updated anti-doping policy language within APhA's Policy Manual at the 2025 APhA Annual Meeting in Nashville, TN (March 21-24, 2025).
• Asian Conference of Clinical PharmacyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBoard Member at Large Hoai-An Truong presented at the Asian Conference of Clinical Pharmacy with colleague Sandy Rhie from South Korea, speaking on the Global Movement of Sports Pharmacist's Roles and Opportunities and highlighting USSPG's national and international initiatives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Drug Free Sport International: Anti-doping and drug-testing services organization that is a core strategic partner of USSPG for the Youth Clean Sport Education initiative. Operates in the same sports integrity/anti-doping space and shares a mission of clean sport education.
• International Sports Pharmacy Network: Founded by Ashley Anderson, who also co-chairs USSPG's Education Committee; both organizations adopt the unifying definition of sports pharmacy and collaborate on advancing the specialty globally.
• The Taylor Hooton Foundation: Non-profit focused on education about appearance- and performance-enhancing substance use; partner of USSPG and aligned on clean sport, anti-doping awareness, and athlete health advocacy.
• Sports Pharmacy Summit: Conference event in the sports pharmacy space that USSPG leadership participates in. Comparable as a community-building touchpoint focused specifically on sports pharmacy practice.

Broad incumbents

• American Pharmacists Association (APhA): The largest U.S. pharmacist professional association, within which USSPG members advanced anti-doping policy in 2025. APhA operates broadly in pharmacy advocacy and education, while USSPG focuses specifically on the sports pharmacy niche.
• International Sports Medicine Federation (FIMS): International federation for sports medicine professionals; relevant as the broader professional convener in the sports medicine ecosystem that USSPG's pharmacist members integrate with through interdisciplinary team care.
• National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA): U.S. professional association for athletic trainers — an allied health segment that USSPG explicitly recruits as members. Comparable as a sports-medicine professional community with continuing education, advocacy, and member services.
• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM): Large sports medicine and exercise science professional organization offering certifications, education, and publications. Comparable as an established sports-medicine specialty body adjacent to USSPG's pharmacist-focused scope.
• International Olympic Committee — Drugs in Sport Certificate: IOC certificate program in drugs in sport, completed by multiple USSPG board members. Comparable as an established sports pharmacy education offering; USSPG's Team Pharmacist Certificate is positioned as a complementary, pharmacist-specific credential.

Emerging players

• The Athlete's Pharmacist: Consultant sports pharmacy practice founded by Jessica Beal-Stahl, a USSPG board member. Operates in the same niche sports pharmacy advisory/consulting space but on a commercial, individual-practitioner basis rather than a non-profit membership model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/ussportspharmacy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/u-s-sports-pharmacy-group

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about U.S. Sports Pharmacy Group