Saskatchewan Roughriders release Ajou Ajou after suspension

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have released Ajou Ajou after violating the league’s gender-based violence and harassment policy. Jacob Carr reports.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have released wide receiver Ajou Ajou after he was handed a suspension for violating the league’s gender-based violence and harassment policy.

The Canadian Football League (CFL) announced the suspension Thursday morning. Ajou will be suspended for the 2026 preseason and no fewer than six additional games.

According to the CFL, it was made aware of “multiple allegations” in late January and initiated a third-party investigation, which involved interviews with Ajou, witnesses and complainants.

An investigation found that Ajou engaged in “aggressive and unwelcome physical contact” with multiple women at a restaurant in Regina.

Minutes after the league’s announcement, the Saskatchewan Roughriders issued a statement, revealing the team had released Ajou.

“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,” said Jeremy O’Day, the team’s vice president of football operations and general manager 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 Regina YWCA, who work collaboratively with the Riders to eliminate gender-based violence and harassment, said they were impressed with the immediate response by the football club.

“I’m very impressed with the way that the Riders handled this situation. I think that it speaks to their understanding of the kind of weight that they carry in our community and the importance of issues around gender-based violence in our community,” said YWCA Regina CEO Melissa Coomber-Bendtsen.

“They have a responsibility as an organization that has a lot of influence to stand behind and make decisions, to ensure that it’s not something that’s tolerated in our community.”

Speaking to media on Thursday, O’Day said an incident like this does not reflect the family culture that the Riders are trying to build and maintain from the top down.

“It is important that we’re all kind of in lockstep. And you know that everyone knows that we’re going to support each other, but we also we got to hold each other accountable. So, hopefully that is a message that the players receive, and it’s just disappointing.”

When asked if there was a chance for a reconciliation with Ajou if he met the criteria for CFL reinstatement, O’Day said “not with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.”