The Canadian Football League (CFL) has officially reinstated free-agent wide receiver Ajou Ajou after he fulfilled requirements related to a suspension imposed under the league’s gender-based violence and harassment policy.
The former Saskatchewan Roughriders player was suspended in April for a minimum of six games following an independent investigation into an incident that occurred at a Regina restaurant on November 18, 2025. The investigation concluded that Ajou had violated the CFL’s gender-based violence and harassment policy.
The Roughriders released Ajou on April 16, the same day the suspension was publicly announced.
According to the CFL, Ajou’s reinstatement was contingent upon completing a series of mandatory measures, including 15 counselling sessions with a gender-based violence specialist, an independent psychological assessment and a meeting with CFL Commissioner Stewart Johnston.
In a statement, the league said Ajou’s ongoing conditions are designed to ensure he demonstrates a continued commitment to meeting the CFL’s standards of conduct. The specific conditions attached to his reinstatement remain confidential.
Despite being reinstated, Ajou has not yet signed with a team and remains a free agent. Should he be signed by any of the CFL’s nine franchises, he will still be required to serve the full six-game suspension before becoming eligible to participate in regular-season or playoff games.
League rules permit suspended players to attend practices and team meetings at the discretion of individual clubs, but they are prohibited from competing in games during the suspension period.
The CFL reiterated its commitment to combating gender-based violence and harassment, emphasizing that such behavior will not be tolerated regardless of whether it occurs in public or private settings. The league stated that its policy covers a wide range of misconduct, including intimate partner violence, physical and sexual assault, verbal abuse, coercive control and other behaviors that contribute to a culture of violence or harassment.
Ajou’s reinstatement marks the next stage in a process that balances accountability, rehabilitation and the league’s standards for player conduct, while leaving the decision of a potential return to professional football in the hands of CFL teams.
