The Canadian Football League season is coming around the bend, heading into the traditional Labour Day Weekend games, capped off Monday with the Toronto Argonauts against the Hamilton Ticats and the Edmonton Elks in Calgary to play the Stampeders.
In September, the playoff races come into focus, with the regular season wrapping up Oct. 26.
The first-place Montreal Alouettes, though, will be getting through the season without Shawn Lemon. The CFL announced that an independent arbitrator has upheld its indefinite suspension of the defensive lineman for wagering on league games.
“We respect the arbitrator’s decision and the important precedent that has been established,” said CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie. “The integrity of any sport is paramount. Players, fans, and anyone associated with our game must be able to believe in the league’s fairness of competition. Today’s decision upholds that standard and underscores the CFL’s position against match manipulation.”
Lemon was suspended in April for allegedly betting on CFL games in 2021 while he was a member of the Stampeders. That included one game that he played in. Lemon appealed the suspension.
A similar story on the sports-betting front last winter during the NBA season involved Jontay Porter, who was playing for the Toronto Raptors. In April, Porter was suspended for life by the NBA when it was determined after an investigation that he had bet on league games, disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, and even limited his time on the court for betting purposes.
There was no indication if Lemon, 36, could apply for reinstatement.
Said the Alouettes in a statement: “The Alouettes organization has always supported the league’s rules on gambling and will continue to do so. The integrity of the league is of the utmost importance to us.”
Lemon was a prominent player; he became just the 13th player in league history last season to earn his 100th CFL sack. He won a Grey Cup as a member of the Stampeders (2014) and the Argos (2017).
