The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) has clarified that players can still use smelling salts and ammonia inhalants during games, despite a league memo that initially appeared to ban their use.
The memo, issued by the NFL, restricts teams from providing these substances, not players themselves. The ban comes after the FDA issued a warning about the safety and efficacy of ammonia inhalants. Players like San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle expressed distress over the initial memo, which he believed would end his use of the substances. The NFLPA confirmed the policy does not prohibit player use, but rather the supply by teams.
The controversy arose after a memo sent to all 32 NFL teams on Tuesday appeared to ban the use of smelling salts and ammonia capsules during games. However, the NFLPA quickly issued a clarification stating that the policy only prohibits team employees from distributing these substances, not players from using them. The NFL also reiterated that the ban is due to concerns raised by the FDA regarding the lack of evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of ammonia inhalants. The league emphasized that these substances could potentially mask neurological signs of concussion, prompting the NFL Head, Neck and Spine Committee to recommend their prohibition.
George Kittle, a 49ers tight end, was among the players unsettled by the initial memo, which he believed would end his use of smelling salts for a game-day energy boost. Kittle joked about considering retirement after the memo was released, but the NFLPA clarification assures players they can still use these substances as long as they bring their own. The league’s decision highlights the ongoing balance between player health and performance enhancement, with the NFLPA working to ensure that players are not unfairly restricted in their preparation for games.