The CFL has suspended defensive end Shawn Lemon for betting offenses after he requested a rescheduling of his independent arbitrator hearing. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

No respite

The Canadian Football League (CFL) has suspended the Montreal Alouettes’ Shawn Lemon for betting on games following an independent arbitrator ruling.

defensive lineman and his legal team requested an adjournment until August 1-2

The CFL initially banned the 35-year-old in April before he appealed the decision and was able to play until his July 5 hearing. This meeting didn’t go ahead as the defensive lineman and his legal team requested an adjournment until August 1-2.

The arbitrator determined that the suspension is “justified and reasonable.” Lemon and the CFL will lay out their cases in the August hearing before a final decision is made.

Opposing views

Lemon allegedly placed bets on CFL games in 2021 when he played for the Calgary Stampeders. This included a €70 (US$76) wager on a two-game parlay that included the Stampeders. The CFL conducted an investigation when it learned about the transgressions and didn’t find evidence of match-fixing.

The CFL has followed a similar path to many other major North American sports leagues in partnering with gambling operators, signing deals last year with 888, FanDuel, and NEO.bet.

One of the points of contention is whether or not the league’s rules at the time explicitly banned this type of activity and if it was communicated to players. Numerous players contend that they weren’t told about any such rules and that no mandatory education course was in place.

Talking about the Lemon case last month, CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie said that “the most unforgivable sin is gambling on a game that you played in” and that the league will send a strong message to show that this won’t be tolerated.

A storied career

Shawn Lemon first played in the CFL in 2011 and has played for eight of the nine franchises in the league. He even had a brief spell in the NFL as a member of the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers in 2015, but did not see any action.

The US native announced his retirement from the sport just two weeks ahead of the initial suspension in April before deciding to play one more season. Lemon has played in the team’s four games this year as they defend their Grey Cup title. They are on an unbeaten streak and will take on the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday.

While the NFL has suspended numerous players in recent years for betting-related offenses, the CFL’s model for disciplinary action makes it harder to quickly ban a player until an independent arbitration takes place.

Alouettes General Manager Danny Maciocia questioned the timing of the league’s announcement less than 48 hours before a game. He asked why it took so long for the investigation to take place, saying “we’re three years removed and three teams removed. I can’t speak intelligently, why it took as long as it did.”

Lemon will now miss four games before the hearing.