Do nicotine products affect an athlete’s performance?

Nicotine products such as cigarettes, oral snuff (snus) or electric cigarettes can generally be considered harmful to the athlete’s immune system and performance. Nicotine is not classified as a doping agent by WADA. This indicates that its use does not improve an athlete´s performance. In research across different sports nicotine did not appear to increase strength, endurance, or recovery from heavy training. In athletes, the use of nicotine products is associated with beliefs and experiences of chemical dependence similar to those of other people addicted to nicotine products. There is a need to study the health impacts of nicotine among athletes in very basic areas such as oral health and cardiovascular effects. The other disadvantages of tobacco products in an athlete are the same as in the rest of the population. It should be noted that little is known about nicotine withdrawal in athletes during or after the active phase.