Defensive-tackle Shawn Oakman, in his first season with the Alouettes, has been suspended indefinitely by the CFL for violating its gender-based violence and harassment policy.<\/p>\n
The league made the announcement Friday night, making Oakman ineligible to play in Saturday afternoon\u2019s East Division semifinal against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers<\/a> at Molson Stadium (2 p.m., CTV, TSN1, TSN4, TSN5, RDS, TSN Radio-690, 98.5 FM).<\/p>\n That point became moot almost immediately as the organization announced the release of Oakman following the CFL\u2019s declaration.<\/p>\n An investigation revealed, following a dispute, Oakman threatened to send sexually explicit material to an intimate partner\u2019s child, who is a minor. That constitutes a breach of the CFL\u2019s policy. The league was made aware of the allegations on Thursday, immediately initiating a third-party investigation, which included interviews with Oakman and the complainant.<\/p>\n \u201cThe CFL takes violations of our gender-based violence and harassment policy with the utmost seriousness,\u201d commissioner Stewart Johnston<\/a> said in a press release. \u201cOur policy is clear and our commitment to enforcing it is unwavering.\u201d<\/p>\n The CFL condemns gender-based violence in all its forms included, but not limited to, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, assault, harassment and verbal abuse, coercive control, as well as the disrespectful and demeaning attitudes that foster violence or the tolerance of such violence \u2014 whether they occur in public or private.<\/p>\n Alouettes general manager Danny Maciocia refused comment when contacted by The Gazette, although he did issue a statement in the team\u2019s announcement it had severed ties with Oakman, 33.<\/p>\n \u201cWe hold everyone in our organization to the highest standard of integrity and respect both on and off the field,\u201d Maciocia said. \u201cWe\u2019ve decided to release Shawn Oakman because his actions go against our core values.\u201d<\/p>\n Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly was suspended for nine games by the CFL in 2024 for a similar violation of its gender-based violence and harassment policy. Randy Ambrosie was the commissioner at the time.<\/p>\n Oakman, 6-foot-8 and 292 pounds, is in his fifth CFL season \u2014 and likely his last \u2014 having previously played for Toronto and Edmonton. The Philadelphia native signed with Montreal last winter as a free agent<\/a>.<\/p>\n He appeared in 17 games this season and proved to be a dominant player, producing 34 tackles, six sacks and two forced fumbles. He was named an East Division all-star this week for the third time in his career.<\/p>\n Oakman, who played collegiately at Penn State before transferring to Baylor, was projected to go in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft. However, two weeks prior to the draft, he was arrested on a sexual assault charge. Although he subsequently was found not guilty of the alleged assault, he wasn\u2019t drafted.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a bitter pill for the Alouettes to swallow on the eve of an elimination game. Oakman was on Montreal\u2019s 45-man roster that was released on Friday, and the team already is missing injured defensive-tackle Mustafa Johnson.<\/p>\n Oakman is being replaced by Kori Roberson Jr., who was already on the active roster. To replace Oakman on the 45-man roster, the Alouettes added defensive-back Robert Kennedy III from the practice roster.<\/p>\n The Alouettes\u2019 defence can anticipate a healthy dose of Winnipeg tailback Brady Oliveira<\/a> on Saturday. Oliveira rushed for 1,163 yards (5.8-yard average) and three touchdowns in only 15 games. He was named the CFL\u2019s outstanding player and top Canadian last season.<\/p>\n