CFL suspends DL Shawn Lemon for betting on games

(Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports)

The Canadian Football League indefinitely suspended defensive lineman Shawn Lemon on Wednesday for wagering on CFL games.

The CFL said an investigation found "clear and irrefutable evidence" that Lemon bet on games in 2021 while playing for the Calgary Stampeders -- including one game in which heplayed.

The league said there was no indication that any matches were impacted by his actions, nor any evidence that any Calgary coaches, teammates or personnel knew of his wagering.

"The integrity of our game is of the utmost importance. Any 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," said CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie.

"It 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."

Lemon, 35, re-signed with the Montreal Alouettes earlier this offseason before abruptly retiring. He won his third Grey Cup with Montreal last season.

Both the Alouettes and Stampeders issued statements.

"The Alouettes were recently made aware of the CFL's investigation regarding an issue involving Shawn Lemon that took place in 2021. Additional information was made available to the club upon the completion of the league's investigation in recent days. The team fully supports the CFL's rules on gambling. As a result of this investigation and the league's ruling, we have suspended Shawn Lemon indefinitely. We will have no further comment."

"The Calgary Stampeder Football Club is surprised and disappointed by the revelations of the Canadian Football League's investigation into Shawn Lemon's sports wagering activities. The Stampeders unequivocally support the CFL's policy on gambling and condemn the actions for which the player in question has been sanctioned. The Stampeders echo CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie's comments about the upmost importance of preserving the integrity of the sport and the league. The Calgary Stampeders will have no further comment on the matter."

Lemon played college football at Akron from 2007-10 before launching his CFL career in 2011. He has recorded 73 sacks and 18 forced fumbles in 104 games with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2016), Toronto Argonauts (2017-19), Stampeders (2021-22) and Alouettes (2023).

Single-game sports wagering was legalized in Canada in 2021.

--Field Level Media