CFL suspends Argos star QB Kelly for violating league’s gender-based violence policy

The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly on Tuesday for at least nine regular-season games after investigating 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 a confidential assessment 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 he reserves the right to change his discipline.

Kelly, 30, was the CFL’s standout player last season after leading Toronto to a league and franchise record 16-2 mark. But the Argos’ season ended with a 38-17 home loss to eventual Gray Cup champion Montreal in the East Division final.

Kelly’s agent, Chris Lambiris, expressed surprise at the suspension and said he and his client would review the appeal process.

“We will continue to study the decision in more detail before issuing a more detailed statement,” Lambiris said.

There was no announcement of any penalties or sanctions against the Argos. However, the league added that its conduct on the matter, as outlined by investigators, would be reviewed with the club.

“The club will respectfully abide by the league’s decision,” the Argos said in a statement. “The Toronto Argonauts and MLSE share the CFL’s commitment to providing a healthy and positive work environment.”

The CFL Players’ Association could not immediately be reached for comment.

Plaintiff alleges unwanted romantic advances

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 that began with unwanted romantic advances and escalated to instances of threatening comments.

The coach said the Argos failed to act when they learned of Kelly’s behavior and claimed assistant general manager John Murphy said she had “opened a can of worms that didn’t need to be opened”.

CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie said the league’s investigation found clear violations of its gender-based violence policies.

“It was important that we did our due diligence to properly investigate this matter from all aspects,” Ambrosie said in a statement. “This in-depth investigation found that Mr. Kelly clearly violated the CFL’s gender-based violence policy.

“Mr Kelly’s suspension is the direct result of his conduct. The addition of mandatory counseling focuses on his need for self-reflection and understanding of his actions. He has to take full advantage of this.”

The plaintiff’s contract with the team was not renewed

The complainant said she was informed in January that her contract with the club would not be renewed. The complainant had joined the franchise in 2018 and stated that her contract had previously been continuously renewed.

The complainant is seeking $80,000 from Kelly and a total of $85,714 from the Argos. The Canadian Press does not publish the names of alleged victims of harassment or sexual assault unless specifically authorized.

The broadcaster 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 stated that the complainant “made these false allegations against him solely to draw media attention to an otherwise very routine termination situation.”

In their defense claim, the Argos claimed they had “no knowledge” of any conduct by Kelly that violated the CFL’s gender-based violence policy or the Ontario Human Rights Code. The team also claimed its conduct toward the plaintiff was “at all times fair, reasonable, lawful and in good faith.”

Kelly, a native of Buffalo, N.Y., signed a three-year, $1.85 million contract 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 announcement comes with the opening of CFL rookie camps, which are scheduled to open on Wednesday. It is unclear whether Kelly will attend the Argos camp, which is being held at the University of Guelph.

With Kelly starting 16 of Toronto’s 18 regular-season games in 2023, first-year backups Cameron Dukes and Bryan Scott both played sparingly. Dukes made two starts and completed 63 of 96 passes for 760 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions while rushing 35 times for 126 yards and eight touchdowns.

Scott didn’t complete any of the four passes he attempted last season.

The CFL’s suspension of Kelly comes about two weeks after it issued retired defensive lineman Shawn Lemon an indefinite betting ban on league games in 2021, including one in which he participated.

Defensive back Chris Edwards, then with the Argos, was suspended six games after the ’21 season for his involvement in an altercation with a fan after the East Division final. But it was reduced to three games.

After last season, Edwards, then with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, was suspended three games for attacking opponents and inciting a non-football altercation in the East Division semifinals. Edwards retired in February.

In 2022, Saskatchewan defensive lineman Garrett Marino received a four-game suspension for three suspensions due to his actions in a game against the Ottawa Redblacks. The penalty was the harshest overall discipline the league has ever imposed for in-game conduct during a competition.