Nicotine Pouches and Sport: Performance, Regulations and Practicality

Nicotine is not a prohibited substance in sport. It sits on the World Anti-Doping Agency's Monitoring Program for 2026, in-competition only, which means usage data is collected but no sanction applies. An athlete who uses a nicotine pouch is not committing an anti-doping rule violation.

That is the regulatory answer, and it is often the only thing reported. The research picture is more interesting and less comfortable, so this page covers both.

Key takeaways

• Nicotine is on WADA's 2026 Monitoring Program, in-competition only
• The Monitoring Program imposes no sanctions — it collects data
• Nicotine has been monitored rather than prohibited since 2012
• PFA and Loughborough University research found 18 per cent of male and 22 per cent of female professional footballers currently use snus or pouches
• Over half of male users and nearly three quarters of female users showed signs of nicotine dependence
• Researchers found most players had received no information or education about the products
• Nicotine is addictive in every format, and this article is not a recommendation to use it
  

What does the Monitoring Program mean?

WADA publishes two relevant documents each year. The Prohibited List names substances and methods that are banned, either at all times or in competition. The Monitoring Program names substances that are not banned but are being watched for patterns of misuse.

Nicotine is on the second list, not the first, and has been since 2012. For 2026 it is listed in-competition only.

The practical position is straightforward: no athlete faces a penalty for nicotine under the anti-doping rules. The data collected could inform a future decision, which is the point of the programme, but no such decision has been made.

What the UK research found

The most substantial UK study is a joint piece of research by the Professional Footballers' Association and Loughborough University, surveying 628 male and 51 female professional footballers alongside interviews with 16 club staff.

The headline figures are these.

Those rates are higher than in the general UK adult population, where current use sits at around 1 per cent. Our UK nicotine pouch statistics page sets out the population figures.

Why do players use them?

The research found the main reasons were social and stress-related — particularly after training and after matches — rather than anything to do with performance.

That distinction matters, and it is worth being clear about. There is no claim to make here about nicotine and athletic performance, and this article is not making one. What the research describes is a habit that spread through a professional environment, not a training aid.

The dependence finding

The most significant result in the study is not the usage rate. It is that 53 per cent of current male users and 73 per cent of current female users reported signs of nicotine dependence.

Dr Daniel Read, one of the researchers, noted that most players had not received information or education about using nicotine pouches, which he described as a challenge given the reported side effects and the difficulty some had stopping.

Nicotine is addictive regardless of the format delivering it, and regardless of how fit the person using it is. Our guide to nicotine dependence covers tolerance, withdrawal and where to find support.

What about amateur and club sport?

No anti-doping rule applies to nicotine at any level, professional or amateur. Individual clubs, leagues and governing bodies may set their own policies on use around training and matches, and some have begun to.

If you play at a club with a formal code of conduct, that is where to look. Where nothing is written down, the sensible position is to ask rather than assume.

Practical points for anyone using pouches around sport

1.       A pouch is not suitable during physical exertion — remove it before playing or training.

2.       Hydration matters. Pouches increase saliva production and some users report dryness afterwards.

3.       Rotate placement rather than using the same spot, particularly with frequent use.

4.       Be honest with medical and coaching staff about what you use and at what strength.

5.       If you are using more than you were six months ago, that is worth noticing.

Our guide to gum health covers placement and care, and how many pouches to use per day covers pacing.

Where to get support

If you want to reduce or stop using nicotine, free support is available through NHS Better Health, local NHS stop smoking services, pharmacists and GPs. Evidence indicates people do better with support than without it.

Nicotine pouches are a consumer product, not a licensed medicine, and are not part of that clinical pathway. CLEW pouches are intended for adults aged 18 and over who already use nicotine.

Sources

• World Anti-Doping Agency, 2026 Monitoring Program
• Professional Footballers' Association and Loughborough University, joint research into snus use in professional football
• Smoking Toolkit Study, oral nicotine pouch use in Great Britain 2020–25

CLEW nicotine pouches are for adults aged 18 and over who already use nicotine. View the range.

Nicotine is highly addictive. CLEW Pouches UK products are intended for adult users (18+) only. They are not suitable for non-smokers, those under 18, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or anyone with a medical condition that could be affected by nicotine. Do not chew or swallow the pouch. If in doubt, please consult a healthcare professional.