Written by Martin Ebner,
Product status and links checked October 2026.
Performance Lab has discontinued SPORT Protein. I’ve kept this review live because people still search for it and I used the product for three months, so the experience is genuine even if the tub is no longer available.
It was built around Oryzatein, an organic brown-rice protein aimed mainly at people who wanted a vegan, dairy-free alternative to whey. I liked the ingredient list and digested it better than most whey powders, although the texture was chalkier and the price was undeniably high.
You can’t buy it now. If you’re looking for something available today, my 7 best protein powders for building muscle explains what I’d choose across whey, casein, soy, pea and rice protein.
PERFORMANCE LAB SPORT PROTEIN OVERVIEW
Performance Lab Sport Protein is a vegan Whole grain rice protein supplement designed to enhance human performance. Unlike many other plant-based protein sources, the patented Oryzatein® used in this product is a complete protein (contains adequate amounts of all nine essential amino acids necessary in the human diet).
A standard serving of 30g (2 scoops) contains an optimal 20g of protein. That’s pretty impressive for a plant-based protein powder and parallel to most Whey protein supplements on the market.
Unlike many Animal protein powders that require nasty and often extensive chemical processing, Oryzatein®, is made with natural enzymes and low heat. Not only is it said to be the world's cleanest and most effective proteins on the market, it’s also the only rice protein shown to build muscle as effectively as whey, with leucine that absorbs 30% faster. That's a BOLD claim and a BIG deal, ladies and gentlemen!
The Chocolate organic brown rice protein is naturally flavored and sweetened using organic cocoa, vanilla bean, cinnamon, Yacon root, Monk fruit and stevia. Yummy!
INGREDIENTS
Unlike some inferior quality protein powders on the market that use bovine sources from unknown origins with questionable cleanliness, Performance Lab uses only the cleanest ingredient. Their protein powder is suitable for all lifestyles and dietary preferences (Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free), contains NO soy, egg, fish, shellfish, dairy, peanut or wheat, is Non-GMO and non-irradiated, is free of gluten, synthetic additives, caffeine, artificial colors and preservatives and of course, is banned substance tested, a very important factor if you’re an athlete and/or compete at a professional level.
Ingredients: Oryzatein® Organic Brown Rice (Oryza sativa) Protein Concentrate, Organic Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) Powder, Organic Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) Gum, Organic Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) Root Powder, Organic Coconut Water (Cocos nucifera) (freeze-dried powder), Bacillus coagulans, Natural Flavors (Organic), Organic Ceylon Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) Bark Powder, Organic Vanilla Bean (Vanilla planifolia), Himalayan Pink Salt, Organic Monk Fruit (Luo Han Guo), Organic Stevia Leaf (Stevia rebaudiana) Extract.
THE PROS
Let’s start with the pros.
Suitable for all lifestyles and dietary preferences.
Clean, Organic Certified and 100% plant-based.
Sourced from the world’s best organic rice farms.
Clinically shown to be as effective as whey for increasing lean muscle mass.
It tastes great!
Naturally flavored and sweetened with organic cocoa, vanilla and Ceylon cinnamon, organic yacon root, monk fruit and stevia.
Free from artificial colors, preservatives, flavors and sweeteners.
Is 100% Clean, Non-GMO, gluten, and caffeine-free.
Claims to supply leucine that absorbs 30% faster than leucine from whey.
BPA-free bottles are manufactured from 20% post-consumer content and are 100% recyclable.
Eco-conscious shipping practices, including using recyclable shipping boxes and biodegradable packing peanuts.
THE CONS
As with all the Performance Lab supplements that I’ve tried, It’s difficult to come up with too many negatives.
The texture when mixing into my morning porridge was a little chalky, less creamy and required slightly more liquid than Whey alternatives.
600g Tubs are quite small.
Premium Price ($59 a month/$1.95 a day - Less when buying in bulk).
At $59 a month/tub, it’s certainly not a cheap protein powder. That said, you often get what you pay for when it comes to supplements and with the performance Lab protein, you’re getting a lot of research and a very high-quality organic protein source for your money.It’s no longer available.
WHAT DO YOU NEED PROTEIN FOR?
While many people believe protein is only useful for bodybuilders and those looking to pack on some serious muscle strength and size, this couldn't be any further from the truth. Yes, protein is crucial to help build and repair muscle damaged through exercise but its role in human life is far more complex. It's also responsible for controlling the body's water balance, helping fight against illness and disease, repairing red blood cells, hair and nail growth, muscle contraction, atrophy protection as we age and even digestion. To put simply, without protein, we wouldn't exist!
If you’re unsure what enough actually looks like, Protein for fitness goals: how much do you need? gives you practical ranges for general fitness, muscle growth and fat loss.
HOW I USED PERFORMANCE LAB SPORT PROTEIN
When it was available, Performance Lab recommended two scoops, which provided 20g of protein, before or after training. I used it mainly after training or stirred into my morning porridge.
The timing wasn’t the important part. What mattered was whether it helped me reach a sensible daily protein target. My guide to how to time protein intake for optimal strength gains explains when a shake can genuinely help and when a normal meal does the job perfectly well.
DID I FEEL ANY DIFFERENCE?
Full transparency. As someone that takes a great deal of care when it comes to diet, it can be quite difficult to determine the exact effects of taking supplements.
What I can tell you is that I felt a lot less bloated and gassy. Whey, which is what I had always taken In the past is made from milk or formed as a by-product of cheese. If you are allergic to dairy or intolerant in any way (which I am) you may suffer from bloating, stomach pains and the dreaded farts! You only need to walk through a bodybuilder's gym to know what I'm talking about. Boak!
In terms of my athletic performance. Again, it's hard to say whether there was any improvement. With that said, if you've been training for a long time, “gains” can become very difficult to come by. If by switching from old fashioned whey to a cleaner and healthier alternative can help in any way, I think it's worth giving it a try.
If recovery is the part you’re trying to improve, my guide to post-workout nutrition explains what actually matters once training finishes.
DO YOU NEED TO TAKE A PROTEIN SUPPLEMENT?
I always like to attempt to answer the million-dollar question when writing supplement reviews. So… Do you actually need to take a protein supplement?
Unfortunately, when it comes to the world of health and fitness, the answer is never straightforward. Whether or not you should take a protein supplement will very much depend on you, your access to fresh and healthy foods, your dietary preferences (carnivore, vegetarian, vegan, etc), exercise routine and fitness goals.
As a personal trainer and sports nutrition specialist, I always recommend that you aim to get everything your body needs for optimal function and performance from diet.
With that said, I'm always amazed at not only the lack of proper nutritional awareness and dietary planning but also just how difficult it can be to get access to clean and healthy protein sources on a daily basis.
Taking that into consideration, if you train a lot, travel a lot and don't have time or access to healthy protein sources, feel that you simply can't eat enough food or protein throughout the day to meet your requirements or you just want to build a safety net to make sure you're getting enough of that vital muscle-building macronutrient, a protein supplement may be a good option for you.
If in doubt about whether or not you need/should take a protein supplement, consult your doctor or seek advice from a registered dietician in your area.
IS PERFORMANCE LAB’S SPORT PROTEIN POWDER THE BEST?
If I’m honest, when I first received the Performance Lab protein, I was a little disappointed at just how small the tub was (600g). After all, i was used to receiving giant bags of whey protein powder, labeled in brash bold extreme packaging and marketed as the magic ingredient to an Arnold Schwarzenegger-esk physique. Grrrrrrrr!
The truth is, we’ve been duped into believing size is everything, especially when it comes to protein consumption and its focus on muscle growth and repair. Yes, adequate protein is vital for peak performance but the quality of the source is just, if not more important than the quantity.
After taking the performance Lab protein powder for 3 months, It's very hard to determine whether or not it was more effective than the Whey protein powder I was taking previously. That said, I eat an extremely clean and balanced diet, and simply knowing that I wasn't consuming an extensively processed product, made me feel a great sense of ease.
As I travel a lot, I found it extremely convenient for quick and effective post-workout nutrition. It’s also very handy and a great addition to those on a mainly plant-based/vegan diet or when healthy protein sources are few and far between.
If plant-based muscle gain is the real reason you’re here, The ripped vegan: can you build muscle on a vegan diet? covers the bigger picture.
My score: 9/10
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