Former Roughrider Shawn Lemon suspended indefinitely for betting on CFL games

A former member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and a three-time Grey Cup champion has been hit with an indefinite suspension by the Canadian Football League.

The CFL issued the suspension to defensive end Shawn Lemon on Wednesday for betting on the league’s games, including a game in which he played.

“An investigation uncovered that Mr. Lemon bet on CFL games in 2021 while a member of the Calgary Stampeders,” the CFL said in a statement.

“While the investigation uncovered clear and irrefutable evidence of Mr. Lemon’s participation, no evidence was found to indicate matches were in any way impacted by his wagering. In addition, no evidence was found to indicate that any Calgary coaches, teammates, nor team personnel were aware of his actions.”

The Stampeders issued a statement, saying they were “surprised and disappointed by the revelations” of the CFL’s investigation into Lemon.

“The Stampeders unequivocally support the CFL’s policy on gambling and condemn the actions for which the player in question has been sanctioned,” the statement said.

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While the suspension took effect Wednesday, it won’t make much difference to Lemon, who announced his retirement shortly after winning the Grey Cup with the Montreal Alouettes.

According to TSN’s football insider Dave Naylor, Lemon re-signed with the team during the off-season, “then abruptly retired.”

In a statement, the Als said they recently were made aware of the CFL’s investigation into Lemon, and were presented with more information after the probe concluded.

“The team fully supports the CFL’s rules on gambling,” the team said. “As a result of this investigation and the league’s ruling, we have suspended Shawn Lemon indefinitely. We will have no further comment.”

Lemon, who played his first CFL game in 2011 with the Roughriders, joined the team again in 2016 but asked to be traded after a loss in the first week of the season.

Shawn Lemon spent two brief stints with the Green and White. (650 CKOM file photo)

In addition to his time with Riders, Stampeders and Alouettes, Lemon also played CFL football in Edmonton, Ottawa, Toronto and B.C. He was part of Grey Cup-winning teams in 2014, 2017 and 2023.

He had nine sacks in 13 regular-season games for Montreal last season, giving him 101 sacks in 148 career regular-season contests.

CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie said the integrity of the league is essential.

“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,” Ambrosie said in a statement.

“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.”

Ambrosie said the league will continue to work with gaming operators, stakeholders and partners “to hold our game to the highest standard.”