"Stimulants," "products to avoid": in the NFL, controversy surrounding the use of ammonia salts

The very next day, the NFL finally reversed course. Players will now be able to continue using their products, but by purchasing them themselves. However, teams will not be allowed to supply players. Over the years, the practice has become commonplace in various professional leagues across the Atlantic. Ammonia salts are used by American football players, like superstar Tom Brady, ice hockey players, and basketball players. In France, these ammonia salts are sometimes used by rugby players. Many believe that these salts give energy and wake them up.

Ammonia salts are usually available in liquid or powder form. They are composed of ammonium carbonate, or a mixture of ammonia and flavorings. In France, some sites that sell this product indicate that "inhalation of the vapors causes immediate stimulation of the respiratory system and the central nervous system" , which, according to them, causes "an immediate energy boost and an improvement in concentration" . This substance is not considered a doping product by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

However, no serious study has highlighted any possible beneficial effects. "When you breathe it in, it's so irritating that you suddenly feel invigorated and your heart starts beating fast," Christiane Ayotte, director of the doping control laboratory at INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, told the Journal de Québec . She added that no study shows "the benefits of inhaling ammonia."

In a press release published in early 2025, the president of the Ordre des chimistes du Québec "disapproved of the use of ammonium salts in a sporting context." "These salts are irritants, and their use in sporting contexts is not based on any scientific rigor. It is the irritant properties of these salts that give the illusion of being invigorated." He called for regulation of the sale of these products.

"Ammonia is a chemical substance that must be handled with care, and its misuse in a sporting context poses a health risk."

Michel Alsayegh, President of the Order of Chemists of Quebec

in the Journal de Québec

The NFL also relies on this lack of scientific literature on the subject to justify this stance. Furthermore, it could mask concussion symptoms. In 2024, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sounded the alarm about the use of these products.

With repeated concussions, the FDA explains that the effects of ammonium salts could worsen an injury. "Everyone should avoid them, especially those with underlying neurological disorders ," Anthony Alessi, MD, a neurologist and sports medicine specialist at the University of Connecticut, said on the FDA website. "In a concussed patient, the first reaction to the pungent odor is to suddenly turn the head away from the stimulus. This can lead to dislocation of the injured spine and potential paralysis."