NFL players will no longer be able to use smelling salts to get a quick jolt of alertness on the field. On Tuesday, the NFL announced the substance was banned for safety reasons.

The league cited a warning from the FDA released last year, informing consumers that smelling salts — often marketed to increase alertness and energy — have not been proven to be safe or effective for that purpose.

In addition to general safety concerns, the NFL noted the substance can mask symptoms of a concussion. Recent estimates suggest one concussion occurs every two NFL games .

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle first revealed the ban in an interview with NFL Network on Tuesday, noting he was "distraught" by the announcement because he uses smelling salts multiple times throughout a game,

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