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The Canadian Football League has suspended receiver Ajou Ajou for the 2026 preseason and no fewer than six additional games for violating their gender-based violence and harassment policy, prompting his release by the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
“The Saskatchewan Roughriders do not tolerate gender-based violence or harassment and Ajou Ajou’s actions go directly against the values we hold as an organization,” Roughriders’ vice-president of football operations and general manager Jeremy O’Day said in a statement. “We hold our players to a high standard, one that focuses on integrity and treating people with respect. He failed to meet that standard and is no longer a Roughrider.”
The league initiated a third-party investigation in late January after it was made aware of multiple allegations that engaged in aggressive and unwelcome physical contact with multiple women at a restaurant in Regina. The investigation corroborated these reports through interviews with Ajou, multiple witnesses and complainants, which constituted breaches of the CFL’s Gender-Based Violence and Harassment Policy.
“Protecting the safety and well‑being of our communities is non‑negotiable,” said CFL Commissioner Stewart Johnston. “Our players are expected to lead with integrity and serve as role models. When improper conduct occurs, our policy is clear, and we will enforce it without exception. It is my hope that Mr. Ajou learns from this experience, and that other players take this unfortunate situation as a reminder of the standards we uphold.”
Mr. Ajou’s reinstatement process will include a minimum of 15 mandatory counselling sessions conducted by a gender-based violence expert, a psychological assessment by another independent expert and a meeting with Commissioner Johnston. Upon satisfactory completion of each, he will be eligible for reinstatement. If he is unable to satisfactorily complete any step in the process, the CFL reserves the right to modify his discipline.
The CFL condemns gender-based violence in all of its forms, including but not limited to intimate partner violence, physical and sexual assault, verbal abuse, coercive control, as well as the disrespectful and demeaning attitudes that foster violence or the tolerance of such violence. Whether these behaviours occur in public or private, gender-based violence will not be tolerated by the CFL.
Annually, CFL players, coaches, staff, and personnel are required to complete education on gender‑based violence and harassment, as well as training on match manipulation, concussion protocols, player code of conduct and the league’s drug policy.
