The CFL initially suspended Montreal Alouettes defensive lineman Shawn Lemon in April, but the former three-time Grey Cup champion, who had retired before the discipline was announced, came out of retirement and appealed the decision. Because of the appeal, Lemon could practice and play in games.
An independent arbitrator upheld Shawn Lemon’s indefinite suspension for sports betting, the CFL announced
The CFL is now sending a message to its players that betting on its games is prohibited and will not be tolerated. On Wednesday, an independent arbitrator upheld Lemon’s indefinite suspension for sports wagering.
“We respect the arbitrator’s decision and the important precedent that has been established,” CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie said in a statement.
“The integrity of any sport is paramount. Players, fans and anyone associated with our game must be able to believe in the league’s fairness of competition.”
Moreover, the CFL found a bet from 2021 where Lemon paid 70 Euros (about $104 Canadian) for a parlay ticket that involved his team at that time, the Calgary Stampeders, covering a spread.
This discovery prompted Lemon to retire in early April after re-signing with Montreal during the winter. The CFL did not reveal where the bets were placed.
Lemon’s suspension was reimposed when an initially scheduled arbitration date in July was postponed until early August
The suspension was reimposed when an initially scheduled arbitration date in July was postponed until early August. Lemon’s appeal of the suspension occurred on Aug. 2 and Aug. 5, according to the CFL.
“The integrity of the league is of the utmost importance to us, and we respect the independent arbitrator’s final verdict,” the Alouettes said in a statement.
“Since joining the Alouettes on July 24, 2023, Shawn Lemon has been an important part of our locker room and our community. We’d like to thank him for all the contributions he has made to our team over the last 13 months.”
Lemon, 35, helped Montreal defeat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 28-24 in last year’s Grey Cup. After signing Lemon, the Alouettes went 12-4, including the playoffs.
The 6-foot-2, 242-pound lineman had 26 tackles, nine sacks, two interceptions, and one forced fumble in 13 regular-season games.
Sports betting was first legalized in Canada in August 2021, allowing provinces to regulate and tax it.
Lemon became the third Canadian-based athlete to be suspended or banned by a major sports league. Ottawa Senators’ Shane Pinto was suspended for the first half of the 2023-24 season by the NHL for proxy betting. Then former Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter received a lifetime ban by the NBA in April for sports wagering.
