What was Constantina Tomescu-Dita smelling during the marathon?

Question

During the middle of the race, she totally pulled out this little capsule, broke it and snorted whatever was in it. Is that legal? What would it have been? And when has there been other examples of this in a marathon?

Did anyone else find it fishy?

Answer 1

"Smelling Salts", or ammonium carbonate, the same stuff they stuck under the noses of fainting Victorian ladies.

Completely legal. A little sad, perhaps, since it implies she had pushed herself the the very brink of passing out...for "sport"...

Answer 2

it's some kind of spice that just keeps you alert i think

and yes, it is legal, and people do it in all marathons i believe