CFL indefinitely suspends All-Star for betting on league games
Ex-Calgary Stampeders defensive lineman Shawn Lemon banned after placing wagers in 2021, including on one game he played in
The Canadian Football League (CFL) has handed out an indefinite suspension to Shawn Lemon for betting on league games three years ago.
Following an investigation, it was found that the defensive lineman bet on CFL games in 2021 while he was playing for the Calgary Stampeders.
The body confirmed it had uncovered “clear and irrefutable evidence of Mr. Lemon’s participation” in betting on CFL games.
The CFL disclosed that Lemon had bet on one game in which he was involved in, but did not provide a detailed list of the extent of the one-time league All-Star’s wagering.
However, the CFL did confirm that no evidence was found to indicate CFL matches had been impacted by his betting.
On top of that, no evidence was found to suggest that Stampeders coaches, teammates, or personnel were aware of Lemon’s conduct.
CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie said it was the league’s “responsibility” to not only investigate allegations of wagering, but to address individuals when rules are broken.
“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,” he said.
“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’s suspension comes in a season where several major league sports in North America have been rocked by betting scandals.
Earlier this month, the NBA suspended Toronto Raptors star Jontay Porter for violating its gambling rules, which included disclosing information to a sports bettor and “limited his own participation in one or more games.”
In the MLB, Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter of Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, was charged with bank fraud in California after being accused of illegally transferring $16m from Ohtani’s account to settle gambling debts with an illegal operator.
In college football, former LSU Tigers wide receiver Kayshon Boutte was arrested in January for placing 8,900 illegal wagers, including on his own team and himself, while he was under the age of 21.