NFLPA confirms to players that the use of smelling salts is not banned

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The NFL Players Association confirmed to players Wednesday that the NFL’s new policy on smelling salts only prohibits teams from providing them to players on game days. The measure does not ban players from using them, the union clarified.

“The NFL Players Association is aware of the memo issued by the league Tuesday regarding the use of smelling salts and ammonia capsules,” the NFLPA wrote in its memo, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post. “We were not notified of this club policy change before the memo was sent out. To clarify, this policy does not prohibit player use of these substances, but rather it restricts clubs from providing or supplying them in any form. The NFL has confirmed this to us. If you have any questions, please reach out to your player director.”

The NFL informed teams Tuesday that they are prohibited from supplying ammonia capsules or any form of smelling salts to players on game days. However, a ban on use by players would have to be negotiated with the union.

The league’s memo to teams, a copy of which The Post obtained Tuesday, noted that last year the Food and Drug Administration “issued a warning to companies that produce commercially available ammonia inhalants (AIs), as well as to consumers about the purchase and use of AIs, regarding the lack of evidence supporting the safety or efficacy of AIs marketed for improving mental alertness or boosting energy. The FDA noted potential negative effects from AI use. AIs also have the potential to mask certain neurologic signs and symptoms, including some potential signs of concussion.”

That FDA warning led the NFL’s head, neck and spine committee to recommend a prohibition on the use of ammonia inhalants “for any purpose during play in the NFL,” according to the memo.

“In light of this information, effective for the 2025 NFL season, clubs are prohibited from providing or supplying ammonia in any form at NFL games,” the league said. “For clarity, ‘ammonia’ refers to ammonia capsules, inhalers, ammonia in a cup, and any form of ‘smelling salts.'”

The NFL told teams that the prohibition “applies to all club personnel (including but not limited to team physicians, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning coaches and coaches or other personnel)” and will be in effect “through the entirety of all NFL games, including during all pregame activities, and halftime, and applies on the sideline and in stadium locker rooms.”

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle walked onto the NFL Network set at the team’s training camp Tuesday to “air a grievance,” he said.

“Our team got a memo today that smelling salts and ammonia packets were made illegal in the NFL,” Kittle said, adding that he uses them on every offensive drive, “and I’ve been distraught all day. … I considered retirement. … So we’ve got to figure out a middle ground here, guys. Somebody help me out. Somebody come up with a good idea.”

On its website, the Cleveland Clinic wrote in 2023 that smelling salts are “bottled powders or packets that contain a hefty dose of ammonia and other chemicals.” They produce a response from the nervous system that is often “referred to as a ‘stress response’ or ‘fight-or-flight mode,'” the article said, from “a rush of adrenaline and other hormones that prepares your body for battle.”

The article said smelling salts are “not physically addicting” and their use “isn’t necessarily going to cause long-term damage” but warned: “Injuries are common in contact sports. Athletes wear protective gear and have concussion protocols in place for good reason. But taking smelling salts can mask the pains and symptoms of injuries, making athletes miss out on getting the medical attention they need.”