Shawn Lemon can resume his Canadian Soccer League profession, and a return to the Montreal Alouettes seems imminent.
The league reinstated the veteran defensive lineman with situations Wednesday. Lemon, 36, was suspended indefinitely April 24, 2024 for wagering on league video games in 2021 whereas a member of the Calgary Stampeders, together with one recreation through which he performed.
Following an attraction, an unbiased arbitrator upheld the suspension.
“Defending the integrity of the play on the sphere is of the utmost significance and we won’t tolerate gamers violating the CFL’s match manipulation coverage,” CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston mentioned in a press release. “Mr. Lemon’s suspension, which was the longest in league historical past, was essential and acceptable.
“He has taken full duty for his actions. He understands how wagering negatively impacts sports activities and has re-educated himself on league coverage. He’s now dedicated to serving to different gamers study from his mistake.”
The reinstatement comes with particular situations. Any future violations of the league’s match manipulation coverage will lead to a lifetime ban.
Lemon, who’s at the moment a free agent, was seen exiting Montreal’s Olympic Stadium carrying an Alouettes hat and sporting the staff’s backpack later Wednesday. He did not instantly reply to an interview request from The Canadian Press.
“We simply will not touch upon him proper now. He isn’t part of our staff simply but,” Alouettes head coach Jason Maas mentioned moments earlier. “However I feel everyone that is aware of us and the way we really feel about Shawn, it hasn’t modified.
“He is an amazing participant, an amazing man. He is been large in our locker room … he is been nothing wanting superb when he is been in our constructing and I feel everyone would say that to a person.”
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Lemon will not be capable to play instantly. He nonetheless faces a two-game suspension beneath the league’s drug coverage after testing constructive for the banned stimulant phentermine, which is prescribed as an urge for food suppressant.
Suspended gamers can’t take part in regular-season or post-season video games. It’s on the membership’s discretion whether or not to permit gamers to take part in different staff actions, akin to coaching camp, pre-season video games, practices or conferences.
Alouettes linebacker Darnell Sankey could not conceal his pleasure about Lemon’s potential return.
“Lemon is a hell of a participant, a good higher man, and I really feel like he positively deserves one other shot on this league,” Sankey mentioned. “He is achieved a whole lot of nice issues and he is an incredible participant, and we’re excited.
“We attempt to keep centered on who’s right here, and when he comes again, we’ll welcome him again with open arms, if that is what occurs.”
Lemon should full all necessary league training, together with the CFL match manipulation coverage and proceed collaborating in counselling classes he has been attending.
The CFL’s unique suspension of Lemon got here two weeks following his retirement after serving to Montreal defeat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 28-24 within the ’23 Gray Cup. Lemon initially signed a one-year cope with the Alouettes in December 2023 to play a 14th CFL marketing campaign.
The league mentioned on the time no proof indicated video games have been impacted by Lemon’s wagering and that Stampeders coaches, teammates and staff personnel have been unaware of his actions.
- Every week earlier than the CFLs suspension of Lemon, Jontay Porter of the Toronto Raptors was banned for all times from the NBA. An investigation decided he disclosed confidential data to sports activities bettors, wager on league video games and restricted his time on the courtroom — on at the least one event — for betting functions. Earlier, Ottawa Senators ahead Shane Pinto was suspended for the primary half of the 2023-24 NHL season, 41 video games, for violating the league’s sports activities wagering guidelines.
- In June, Tucupita Marcano of the San Diego Padres was banned from baseball for all times for betting on the game. Oakland pitcher Michael Kelly and three minor-league gamers additionally obtained one-year suspensions for gambling-related violations.
Lemon appealed his suspension in Might, which allowed him to report back to Montreal’s coaching camp and play with the CFL staff. He helped the Alouettes open the ’24 season with 4 straight wins earlier than one other arbitrator dominated July 4 to reinstate the league’s unique indefinite suspension.
3-time Gray Cup champion
Lemon’s attraction was heard Aug. 2 and Aug. 5. He had continued to practise with the Alouettes however did not play in any of their remaining 14 regular-season contests or their East Division last loss to Toronto.
Lemon turned a free agent this low season.
The six-foot-two, 242-pound Lemon is a three-time Gray Cup champion. The native of Charleston, S.C., started his professional profession with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as a practice-roster participant in 2011 and has frolicked with each CFL staff, some on a number of events, besides Hamilton.
He received Gray Cups with Calgary (2014), Toronto (2017) and Montreal (2023).
Lemon additionally frolicked with the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers in addition to two Enviornment Soccer League groups and one other within the Indoor Soccer League.
Lemon has recorded 262 tackles, two special-teams tackles and 102 sacks over his CFL profession. He additionally had three interceptions, 30 pressured fumbles and returned a fumble restoration for a landing.
He was a CFL all-star in 2022 when he had 14 sacks with Calgary and was the West Division’s high defensive participant that season.
