The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
According to the CFL, Kelly is also suspended for TorontoB次元官网网址檚 two pre-season games for violating its gender-based violence policy. Kelly must undergo confidential assessments by an independent expert and attend mandatory counselling sessions conducted by a gender-based violence expert.
Both the counselling sessions and assessments must be satisfactorily completed before the CFL will consider KellyB次元官网网址檚 reinstatement, the league added in a statement. Otherwise, it reserves the right to modify his discipline.
Kelly, 30, was the CFLB次元官网网址檚 outstanding player last season after leading Toronto to a league-best and franchise-record 16-2 record. But the ArgosB次元官网网址� season ended with a 38-17 home loss to eventual Grey Cup-champion Montreal in the East Division final.
There was no announcement regarding any penalties or sanctions against the Argos. But the league added their conduct in this matter, as laid out by the investigators, will be reviewed with the club.
B次元官网网址淭he club will respectfully abide by the LeagueB次元官网网址檚 decision,B次元官网网址� the Argos said in a statement. B次元官网网址淭he Toronto Argonauts and MLSE share the CFLB次元官网网址檚 commitment to providing healthy and positive work environments.B次元官网网址�
Neither Kelly nor the CFL PlayersB次元官网网址� Association were immediately available for comment.
The CFLB次元官网网址檚 decision to launch its investigation came after the complainant filed a statement of claim with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, alleging a pattern of harassment by Kelly, beginning with unwanted romantic advances and escalating into instances of threatening language.
The coach said the Argos did not act when told of KellyB次元官网网址檚 behaviour and claims assistant general manager John Murphy said she B次元官网网址渙pened a can of worms that didnB次元官网网址檛 need to be opened.B次元官网网址�
CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie said the leagueB次元官网网址檚 investigation revealed definite violations of its gender-based violence policy.
B次元官网网址淚t was important that we performed our due diligence to properly review this matter from all points of view,B次元官网网址� Ambrosie said in a statement. B次元官网网址淭hat in-depth investigation found that Mr. Kelly unequivocally violated the CFLB次元官网网址檚 gender-based violence policy.
B次元官网网址淢r. KellyB次元官网网址檚 suspension is the direct result of his behaviour. The addition of mandatory counselling focuses on his need for self-reflection and understanding of his actions. He must take full advantage of this.B次元官网网址�
The complainant said she was informed in January her contract with the club would not be renewed. The complainant had joined the franchise in 2018 and said her contract had previously been continually renewed.
The complainant is seeking $80,000 from Kelly and a total of $85,714 from the Argos. The Canadian Press does not publish the names of alleged victims of harassment or sexual assault unless granted permission.
TSN also reported the complainant is also seeking $10,000 worth of punitive damages.
The broadcaster also said Kelly recently filed his defence in the lawsuit and denied making B次元官网网址渁ny romantic or sexual overturesB次元官网网址� towards the plaintiff, including workplace sexual harassment.
Kelly stated the complainant B次元官网网址渁dvanced these spurious claims against him purely to draw the attention of the media to what was otherwise a very routine termination situation.B次元官网网址�
In their defence filing, the Argos claimed they had B次元官网网址渘o knowledgeB次元官网网址� of any behaviour from Kelly that violated the CFLB次元官网网址檚 gender-based violence policy or breached the Ontario Human Rights Code. The team also claimed its conduct with the plaintiff was B次元官网网址渁ll times fair, reasonable, lawful and undertaken in good faith.B次元官网网址�
Kelly, a native of Buffalo, N.Y., signed a three-year, $1.85-million extension with Toronto last season that made him the leagueB次元官网网址檚 highest-paid player. This off-season, though, Kelly restructured his contract with the team.
The CFLs announcement comes with CFL rookie camps slated to open Wednesday. ItB次元官网网址檚 unclear if Kelly will be in attendance at the ArgosB次元官网网址� camp, which is being held at the University of Guelph.
With Kelly starting 16 of TorontoB次元官网网址檚 18-regular-season games in 2023, first-year backups Cameron Dukes and Bryan Scott both played sparingly. Dukes made two starts, completing 63-of-96 passes for 760 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions while rushing 35 times for 126 yards and eight TDs.
Scott didnB次元官网网址檛 complete any of the four passes he attempted last season.
The CFLB次元官网网址檚 suspension of Kelly comes roughly two weeks after it handed retired defensive lineman Shawn Lemon an indefinite ban for betting on league games in 2021, including one he played in.
Defensive back Chris Edwards, then of the Argos, was suspended for six games following the B次元官网网址�21 season for his role in an altercation with a fan following the East Division final. But it was reduced to three games.
Following last season, Edwards, then with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, received a three-game suspension for striking opponents and inciting a non-football altercation during the East Division semifinal. Edwards retired in February.
In 2022, Saskatchewan defensive lineman Garrett Marino received a four-game ban from three separate suspensions following his actions in a game versus the Ottawa Redblacks. The penalty was the leagueB次元官网网址檚 most severe total discipline ever implemented for in-game behaviour during one contest.
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