The Saskatchewan Roughriders have released receiver Ajou Ajou in response to what the team said in a Thursday news release was a CFL investigation that found he’d violated the league’s gender-based violence and harassment policy.
In a news release the league said it was made aware in January of multiple allegations that Ajou had made “aggressive and unwelcome physical contact with multiple women at a restaurant in Regina.”
As told to SportsCage.com by Regina Provincial Court staff ahead of the Riders’ 11:15 a.m. news conference Thursday, no criminal charges were pending against Ajou.
“Our players and our staff are required to complete education for gender-based violence and harassment every single year,” Riders general manager Jeremy O’Day told reporters in a Thursday morning media availability. “This is reinforced multiple times throughout the year. Our expectations are that our players and staff treat people with respect and integrity. These violations clearly did not meet that standard for our organization and they will not be tolerated. That is why we chose to release Ajou today.”
Ajou played college football in the United States for Clemson, South Florida and Garden City, before being drafted by the Riders in 2024.
He dressed for 12 games with the Riders in 2024 and eight more in 2025, hauling in 42 receptions for a combined 519 yards and two touchdowns over two seasons.
While O’Day was explicit in speaking to local media that Ajou would never again be a Roughrider, the CFL said in its own statement that Ajou may return to the league after completing “a minimum of 15 mandatory counselling sessions conducted by a gender-based violence expert, a psychological assessment by another independent expert and a meeting” with commissioner Stewart Johnson.
That the alleged incident occurred on the day of the team’s Grey Cup parade, when players were seen on live TV openly drinking alcohol as they paraded down Albert Street in Regina and later appeared on the premier’s balcony at the provincial legislature, was less of a concern.
“I think (head coach) Corey (Mace), he holds team to a very high standard,” said O’Day. “Corey’s involved in the community more than any head coach I’ve ever been around. Corey is constantly talking to our players about the importance of being respectful and handling yourself with integrity again more than any other coach that I’ve been around. He also conducts his own personal life in that manner
“So I think what you see is you see a team of players that are celebrating, trying to enjoy a championship. And I think that, not that it’s right or wrong but I think it’s pretty common, the celebrations that happen after winning a championship and I think there’s a line that you have to make sure that you don’t cross and obviously you want to make sure everyone is staying as safe as possible, so tough one to answer because you want everyone to enjoy their hard work but you also want them to do it in a responsible manner.”
