Latest news with #smellingSalts
National Post
2 days ago
- Health
- National Post
NFLPA confirms to players that the use of smelling salts is not banned
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. Article content '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.' Article content Article content Article content 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. Article content 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.' Article content 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. Article content Article content '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.'' Article content 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.' Article content 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. Article content '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.'
Wall Street Journal
2 days ago
- Sport
- Wall Street Journal
NFL Players Love Smelling Salts. The NFL's Cracking Down Anyway.
Football players have long had a pick-me-up available on the sidelines in times of need. They're known as smelling salts, and a single whiff of them can provide an instant jolt. But now, the NFL is trying to get them out of the game. And players aren't exactly thrilled about it—with the union quickly pushing back—even though the league made the decision out of concern for their own well-being.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Report: NFLPA tells players they can still use smelling salts
The NFL's ban on smelling salts and ammonia capsules comes with a massive asterisk. Players are still permitted to use them. Via Kalyn Kahler of the NFLPA sent the following message to all players on Wednesday night: "The NFL Players Association is aware of the memo issued by the league Tuesday regarding the use of smelling salts and ammonia capsules. 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." (Emphasis in original.) The NFL didn't prohibit player use of smelling salts or ammonia capsules because it can't do so without collective bargaining. For now, it's a liability issue for the league. By preventing teams from supplying them, the NFL has an obvious defense if, for example, a player uses smelling salts or ammonia capsules to mask the symptoms of a concussion, returns to a game, and suffers a second concussion and a potentially serious brain injury because of it. If the league were truly concerned about the health and safety impact of using smelling salts or ammonia capsules, it would use all levers and leverage to persuade, and if necessary persude, the NFLPA to join in a mutual effort to prevent players from bringing and using their own. Unfortunately, the nature of collective bargaining isn't conducive to a single-issue win-win. If one side wants something, the other side will say, "What's in it for us?" In other words, "If you want us to agree to ban smelling salts and ammonia capsules, give us something in return." The better approach would be to truly appreciate and understand the health and safety issues associated with using smelling salts and/or ammonia capsules to clear the cobwebs from a brain that has been impacted by trauma. Both sides should want to stop using them. It's amazing, frankly, that it's taken the league so long to realize it's not a good idea to have them around. Now that the NFL is on board with banning them, the NFLPA should think less about parlaying this into a bargaining chip and more about whether it's in the best interests of the players to get them off the sidelines and out of the locker rooms. The problem is that neither side of any labor-management relationship thinks this way. It's always about getting something in return for whatever is being given up. On matters of player health and safety, the constant tug-of-war should yield to common sense.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
NFL confirms major loophole in new ban on smelling salts and other ammonia inhalants
NFL players gripping their contraband smelling salts like winning lottery tickets can relax: the league won't ban the inhalants. The players' union sent a memo to members clarifying the NFL ban, which strictly applies to teams providing smelling salts and any other ammonia inhalant during pregame activities, games and halftime on the sideline or in the locker rooms. Now NFL players will be out of pocket for the inhalants, which can cost around $6.50 per dose. 'The NFL Players Association is aware of the memo issued by the league Tuesday regarding the use of smelling salts and ammonia capsules,' read the memo, which was obtained by The Associated Press. '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.' The league's recent edict on inhalants cited a Food and Drug Administration warning that such treatments could potentially mask symptoms of head trauma. But just try telling that to NFL players and even coaches, who use smelling salts for the rush of energy and mental stimulation they provide. While crashing an NFL Network broadcast at 49ers training camp in Santa Clara on Tuesday, San Francisco tight end George Kittle claimed the NFL was banning players from using stimulating inhalants. 'I honestly came here to air a grievance,' Kittle said. 'Our team got a memo today that [said] smelling salts and ammonia packets were made illegal in the NFL. 'I've been distraught all day,' he continued. ;I considered retirement. We have to figure out a middle ground. Somebody help me out.' Kittle was then asked how often he uses the stimulant, replying: 'I'm an every drive guy. I miss them already.' Smelling salts are also popular across multiple sports and with power lifters. Users are advised to take a 'whiff' of the product for enhanced alertness and energy. The stimulant has previously been endorsed by Joe Rogan , who spoke at length about smelling salts during a podcast episode three years ago. Rogan initially tried the product himself - along with comedian Theo Von - and struggled to deal with the intensity that they provided. However, Rogan encouraged his producer to try the stimulant. He said: 'You should take a hit! It's not that bad. It's not painful'. Rogan later posted a clip onto his Instagram with the caption: 'Our first experience with smelling salts. The great and powerful @theovon and I took a whiff of @jujimufu's good stuff. 'Shoutout to my friend @worlds_strongest_gay for the introduction to these fine olfactory stimulators. Holy s*** was that intense'. In a report by ESPN last year, Dr. Joseph Estwanik of the American College of Sports Medicine also warned of the dangers that the stimulant can cause. He explained: 'The claim is that smelling salts arouse your consciousness and focus, but how many of us in our daily lives think it's appropriate during a tough day at work to open a bottle of ammonia and start sniffing the fumes?' 'Ammonia's intended use is for cleaning. Giving a highly trained elite athlete ammonia to help them perform at their peak is like throwing a drowning man a cup of coffee.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
NFL smelling salts ban: NFLPA provides key updates on policy
The NFL announced Tuesday its teams would be prohibited from distributing smelling salts to its players during the league's 2025 season. However, the league did not actually ban the products from being used, as the NFLPA clarified Wednesday. "We were not notified of this club policy change before the memo was sent out," the NFLPA wrote in a message to its players, per ESPN. "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." The confusion stemmed from the NFL's initial memo to players, which explained why NFL clubs would no longer be permitted to distribute smelling salts to its players. "In 2024, the FDA 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. As a result, the NFL Head, Neck, and Spine Committee recommended prohibiting the use of AIs for any purpose during play in the NFL. "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. For clarity, 'ammonia' refers to ammonia capsules, inhalers, ammonia in a cup, and any form of 'smelling salts.' This prohibition applies to all club personnel (including but not limited to team physicians, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning coaches and coaches or other personnel). The prohibition applies through the entirety of all NFL games, including during all pregame activities, and halftime, and applies on the sideline and in stadium locker rooms." Several NFL players took the memo to mean the use of smelling salts had been banned outright. That upset many, including San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, who said he was "distraught all day" after reading the memo. "I'm an every drive guy," Kittle said of his use of smelling salts in an appearance on NFL Network. "I considered retirement. We got to figure out a middle ground here guys. Somebody help me out, somebody come up with a good idea… I miss those already." After the NFLPA's clarification, Kittle no longer has to worry about negotiating a middle ground. He will, however, have to provide his own stash of smelling salts if he wants to continue using them in 2025. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL players not banned from using smelling salts, NFLPA says
