The Canadian Press
Posted Tuesday, May 7, 2024 2:41 pmEDT
Last updated Tuesday, May 7, 2024 4:43 pmEDT
The CFL on Tuesday suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength and conditioning coach against the player and the club.
According to the CFL, Kelly is also suspended for Toronto’s two preseason games for violating its gender-based violence policy. Kelly must undergo confidential evaluations by an independent expert and attend mandatory counseling sessions conducted by a gender-based violence expert.
Both counseling sessions and evaluations must be completed satisfactorily before the CFL will consider Kelly’s reinstatement, the league added in a statement. Otherwise, the right is reserved to modify his discipline.
Kelly, 30, was the CFL’s breakout player last season after leading Toronto to a league-best and franchise-record 16-2 record. But the Argos’ season ended with a 38-17 home loss to eventual Gray Cup champion Montreal in the Eastern Division final.
There was no announcement regarding penalties or sanctions against Argos. But the league added that the club’s conduct in this matter, as established by investigators, will be reviewed with the club.
Kelly was not immediately available for comment. Neither the Argos nor the CFL Players Association offered answers either.
The CFL’s decision to launch its investigation came after the complainant filed a statement of claim with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, alleging a pattern of harassment by Kelly, beginning with unwanted romantic advances and escalating to cases threatening language.
The coach said the Argos failed to act when informed of Kelly’s behavior and claims assistant general manager John Murphy said she “opened a can of worms that didn’t need to be opened.”
CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie said the league’s investigation revealed definitive violations of its gender-based violence policy.
“It was important that we conduct our due diligence to properly review this matter from all points of view,” Ambrosie said in a statement. “That in-depth investigation found that Mr. Kelly unequivocally violated the CFL’s gender-based violence policy.
“Mr. Kelly’s suspension is a direct result of his behavior. The addition of mandatory counseling focuses on his need for self-reflection and understanding of his actions. He should take full advantage of this.”
The complainant said that in January she was informed that her contract with the club would not be renewed. The complainant had joined the franchise in 2018 and said that previously his contract had been continually renewed.
The plaintiff is seeking $80,000 from Kelly and a total of $85,714 from Argos. The Canadian Press does not publish the names of alleged victims of sexual harassment or assault unless granted permission.
TSN also reported that the plaintiff is also seeking $10,000 in punitive damages.
The station also said Kelly recently filed his defense in the lawsuit and denied making “any romantic or sexual advances” toward the plaintiff, including sexual harassment in the workplace.
Kelly claimed that the plaintiff “filed these false allegations against him simply to draw media attention to what would otherwise be a very routine termination situation.”
In their defense filing, the Argos stated they were “not aware” of any behavior by Kelly that violated the CFL’s gender-based violence policy or breached the Ontario Human Rights Code. The team also stated that her conduct with the plaintiff was “at all times fair, reasonable, lawful and carried out in good faith.”
Kelly, a native of Buffalo, New York, signed a three-year, $1.85 million extension with Toronto last season that made him the highest-paid player in the league. However, this offseason, Kelly restructured his contract with the team.
The CFL’s announcement comes with CFL rookie camps scheduled to open Wednesday. It is unclear if Kelly will attend the Argos camp, which will be held at the University of Guelph.
With Kelly starting 16 of Toronto’s 18 regular-season games in 2023, first-year reserves Cameron Dukes and Bryan Scott played sparingly. Dukes made two starts, completing 63 of 96 passes for 760 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions while rushing 35 times for 126 yards and eight TDs.
Scott did not complete any of the four passes he attempted last season.
Kelly’s suspension by the CFL comes about two weeks after it imposed an indefinite ban on retired defensive lineman Shawn Lemon from betting on league games in 2021, including one in which he played.
Defensive back Chris Edwards, then of the Argos, was suspended for six games after the 2021 season for his role in an altercation with a fan after the East Division final. But he was reduced to three games.
After last season, Edwards, then with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, received a three-game suspension for hitting opponents and inciting a non-football altercation during the East Division semifinal. Edwards retired in February.
In 2022, Saskatchewan defensive lineman Garrett Marino received a four-game suspension for three separate suspensions following his actions in a game against the Ottawa Redblacks. The penalty was the most severe total discipline ever implemented by the league for in-game behavior during a competition.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 5, 2024.