Camilla Jessen
Athletes are using this for a boost, but it could be hurting their game.
They’re small, discreet, and marketed as smoke-free alternatives. But nicotine pouches are quietly making their way into sports culture.
While some athletes claim they help with focus and calm nerves before a big game, experts are warning that the short-term buzz may come at a long-term cost.
What starts as a simple experiment—slipping a small pouch under the lip in the locker room—can quickly become a habit, even among elite athletes. The belief is that nicotine can sharpen the mind and steady the nerves.
But growing research and input from sports professionals suggest otherwise.
What Nicotine Really Does
It’s true that nicotine can briefly make you feel more alert. That quick sense of wakefulness is part of what draws people in.
But according to experts, the feeling is misleading.
Nicotine affects the body’s autonomic nervous system—the same system that regulates your heart rate, blood pressure, and other vital functions. In high-level sports, where every second and breath counts, disrupting that balance can have real consequences.
Nutritionists have increasingly raised concerns. More athletes are asking whether nicotine pouches are harmless.
The answer, they say, is no.
Short Gains, Long-Term Losses
The risk may be even greater for athletes who don’t normally use nicotine.
For them, even a small dose can throw off their concentration and physical performance—right when they believe it’s helping them most.
Research suggests that nicotine can limit the body’s ability to fully benefit from training and recovery.
So even if you’re pushing hard in practice and eating well, nicotine might be blocking some of those gains.
It’s a paradox: athletes are turning to nicotine for a boost, only to end up with slower recovery times and reduced performance.
More Than Just a Trend
What was once considered a young person’s habit is now showing up in professional locker rooms.
Coaches and support staff are increasingly talking about it. Team chats, gym sessions, and sideline rituals are all places where the use of nicotine pouches is becoming normalized.
What seems like a harmless boost could actually be undermining your edge.
The article is based on information from Via Ritzau.
