The Canadian Football League announced on Thursday that defensive lineman Shawn Lemon is suspended for two games for violating the CFL/CFLPA drug policy after testing positive for the banned substance Phentermine, a drug that helps with weight loss. Lemon appealed the decision but was denied.
Lemon was already suspended from the CFL for gambling, including one he played in. Shawn Lemon abruptly retired from the CFL on April 10, 2024. On April 24, 2024, the CFL suspended Lemon for gambling violations. However, Lemon appealed the suspension and was allowed to return to the field.
Shawn Lemon is six foot one and weighs 242 pounds. The 36-year-old from Waldorf, Maryland, made six tackles and one sack in four games before his suspension was reinstated on July 4, 2024, and he missed the rest of the regular season.
CFL Players who test positive or fail to provide a sample receive a two-game suspension for a first violation, a nine-game suspension for a second, a one-year suspension for a third, and a lifetime ban for a fourth.
All players are subject to mandatory drug testing following a positive result or failure to provide a sample. They are also required to participate in an assessment and clinical evaluation to determine if additional counseling is required.
The policy mandates a total number of league-wide tests equal to the total number of players in the CFL. Testing is ongoing and is conducted year-round.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed Lemon on July 18, 2011, and was placed on the practice squad. Later, he signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and played one game in 2011.
Afterward, Lemon had stints with the Orlando Predators (AFL) and Sioux Falls Storm (IFL) in 2012 before returning to the CFL in 2012 with the Edmonton Eskimos. He played 12 games with 15 tackles, six sacks, and one forced fumble.
In 2013, Lemon signed with the Calgary Stampeders. He played two seasons in Calgary with 44 tackles, 16 sacks, one interception, and eight forced fumbles in 24 games. He is a member of the 2014 Grey Cup championship team.
After Calgary, Lemon left and signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers and later the San Francisco 49ers but returned to the CFL in 2015 signing with the Ottawa Redblacks. He made 13 tackles, six sacks, and three forced fumbles in nine games. He was named a CFL East All-Star after the 2015 season.
In 2016, Lemon returned to Saskatchewan for his second stint. He played one game with one forced fumble before he was traded to the Toronto Argonauts. In Toronto, he made 22 tackles, 14 sacks, and four forced fumbles in 16 games. After the season, he signed a contract extension.
During the 2017 season, Lemon made 18 tackles, eight sacks, and one forced fumble in 12 games helping the Argonauts win the 105th Grey Cup. It was Lemon’s second Grey Cup championship.
Lemon began the 2018 season in Toronto playing five games with five tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble before he was traded to the B.C. Lions. He played 13 games with 17 tackles and ten sacks for the Lions. In 2019, he returned to Toronto as a free agent with 15 tackles and one sack in four games before he was again traded to the B.C. Lions. Lemon made 19 tackles, eight sacks, and three forced fumbles in ten games for the Lions.
Lemon signed with the Edmonton Elks on February 3, 2021, but was released on July 29, 2021. He signed with the Calgary Stampeders a day later on July 30, 2021. In 2021, Lemon made 26 tackles, eight sacks, and two forced fumbles in 11 games.
In 2022, Lemon made 29 tackles, 14 sacks, and five forced fumbles for the Calgary Stampeders. He was named a CFL West All-Star and CFL All-Star in 2022. Lemon played two seasons in Calgary with 55 tackles, 22 sacks, and seven forced fumbles in 28 games.
On July 23, 2023, Lemon signed with the Montreal Alouettes. He made 26 tackles, nine sacks, two interceptions, one touchdown, and one forced fumble in 13 games for the Alouettes in 2023 helping them win the 110th Grey Cup over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 28-24.
Collegiately, Lemon played four seasons at the University of Akron (2007-10) making 102 tackles (53 solos, 49 assists), 23 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, one pass breakup, six forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries in 41 games for the Zips. In his final season, Lemon made 39 tackles, seven sacks, one pass breakup, three forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries in 12 games.
