MONTREAL — Hockey Quebec is banning the use of smelling salts, citing concern over their use by young players.
The governing body published a directive Tuesday stating the ammonia-based inhalants are no longer allowed during games, practices and organized activities.
Hockey Quebec confirmed in an email that at least one coach in the province has been suspended in relation to the use of smelling salts by players in the under-11 age group.
Smelling salts were originally developed to revive people who had fainted, but they are also marketed toward athletes seeking an energy boost and are a common sight on NHL hockey benches.
The directive published on Facebook said that while smelling salts are not banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, inhaling ammonia-based products can have health effects.
"Ammonia rapidly produces upper respiratory tract irritation, coughing, and bronchospasm," read the directive signed by general manager Stéphane Auger. "A more significant exposure will cause edema of the respiratory tract."
Auger wrote that the organization plans to develop rules and a policy on the use of the products by next season, in collaboration with health agencies and Hockey Canada.
Joe Schwarcz, a chemistry professor and director of McGill University’s office for science and society, said smelling salts are mostly made up of ammonium carbonate. They work by releasing ammonia, which is often used in cleaning products and has a "pretty annoying smell," he said.
"The effect is that, when you sniff ammonia, it irritates the lining of the nose," he said in a phone interview. "And when it gets irritated, it causes you to all of a sudden take a deep breath. And when you're taking a deep breath, you're inhaling more oxygen."
He said that while smelling salts were seen as effective in the Victorian era for reviving people who fainted, there is "absolutely no evidence" that they improve athletic performance.
"The placebo effect can be very potent, but there's no evidence that it actually increases adrenalin or increases strength or anything," he said.
On the other hand, despite the concerns voiced by Hockey Quebec, he also hasn't seen any scientific studies suggesting commercially available smelling salt capsules pose any real health risk.
He's not in favour of their use among children, he said, but most of the dangerous side effects of ammonia are linked to people who work in industrial settings with large quantities of the gas.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 12, 2025.
Morgan Lowrie, The Canadian Press
