The CFL indefinitely suspended veteran defensive lineman Shawn Lemon on Wednesday for betting on league games, including one the league says he played in.
The CFL said an investigation showed Lemon bet on games in 2021 while with the Calgary Stampeders.
The league added there was no evidence to indicate games were impacted by his wagering. It also said no Calgary coaches, teammates or team personnel were aware of LemonB次元官网网址檚 actions.
Lemon, a three-time Grey Cup champion, retired April 10 to cap a career in Canada that spanned 13 seasons. His decision to retire came roughly four months after he signed a one-year extension with Montreal.
B次元官网网址淭he integrity of our game is of the utmost importance,B次元官网网址� CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie said in a statement. B次元官网网址淎ny other factors _ career performance, actions in the community, timing, frequency or size of wagers _ hold no weight when the legitimacy of the CFL can be called into question.
B次元官网网址淚t is our responsibility as a league to investigate and address such abnormalities, and it is our collective duty, along with our teams and players, to ensure that sports wagering in no way impacts the quality nor standing of the CFL. We will continue to work with our authorized gaming operators, partners and stakeholders to hold our game to the highest standard.B次元官网网址�
Lemon, 35, helped Montreal defeat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 28-24 in last yearB次元官网网址檚 Grey Cup. The Alouettes went 12-4, including the playoffs, after signing Lemon, who had 26 tackles, nine sacks, two interceptions and one forced fumble in 13 regular-season games.
Lemon, of Charleston, S.C., also earned his 100th CFL sack last season.
B次元官网网址淭he Alouettes were recently made aware of the CFLB次元官网网址檚 investigation regarding an issue involving Shawn Lemon that took place in 2021,B次元官网网址� the Montreal franchise said in a statement. B次元官网网址淎dditional information was made available to the club upon the completion of the leagueB次元官网网址檚 investigation in recent days.
B次元官网网址淭he team fully supports the CFLB次元官网网址檚 rules on gambling. As a result of this investigation and the leagueB次元官网网址檚 ruling, we have suspended Shawn Lemon indefinitely. We will have no further comment.B次元官网网址�
The CFLB次元官网网址檚 release did not say where the bets were placed. Single-game betting became legal in Canada in 2021.
Lemon is the third Canadian-based athlete to be suspended or banned by a major sports league since the legalization. Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto was suspended for the first half of the 2023-24 season by the NHL for an undisclosed gambling infraction. Former Toronto Raptors centre Jontay Porter was banned by the NBA earlier this month after a league investigation found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, limited his participation in one or more games for betting purposes and bet on NBA games.
Lemon began his pro career with Winnipeg as a practice-roster player in 2011 and spent time with every CFL team except Hamilton. He also won Grey Cups with Calgary (2014) and Toronto (2017) while spending time with the NFLB次元官网网址檚 San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers as well as two Arena Football League teams and another in the Indoor Football League.
B次元官网网址淭he Calgary Stampeder Football Club is surprised and disappointed by the revelations of the Canadian Football LeagueB次元官网网址檚 investigation into Shawn LemonB次元官网网址檚 sports wagering activities,B次元官网网址� the Stampeders stated. B次元官网网址淭he Stampeders unequivocally support the CFLB次元官网网址檚 policy on gambling and condemn the actions for which the player in question has been sanctioned.
B次元官网网址淭he Stampeders echo CFL commissioner Randy AmbrosieB次元官网网址檚 comments about the utmost importance of preserving the integrity of the sport and the league. The Calgary Stampeders will have no further comment on the matter.B次元官网网址�
The six-foot-two, 242-pound Lemon registered 237 tackles and 101 sacks in 237 career regular-season games. He also had three interceptions, forced 30 fumbles and returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Lemon was a CFL all-star in 2022 when he had 14 sacks with Calgary, tying his career-best recorded in 2016 over 16 contests with Toronto. He was named the West DivisionB次元官网网址檚 top defensive player that season.
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