Shawn Oakman suspended for violating CFL's gender-based violence and harassment policy, released by Montreal Alouettes

Defensive lineman Shawn Oakman has been suspended indefinitely for violating the Canadian Football League’s gender-based violence and harassment policy, which led the Montreal Alouettes to release him on Friday night.

According to a press release, the league was made aware of allegations against Oakman on Thursday and immediately initiated a third-party investigation, which included interviews with the six-foot-eight, 280-pound defender and complainant.

According to the league, the investigation revealed that Oakman allegedly threatened to send sexually explicit material to an intimate partner’s child, who is a minor. His actions breached the league’s gender-based violence and harassment policy.

“The Canadian Football League takes violations of our gender-based violence and harassment policy with the utmost seriousness. Our policy is clear, and our commitment to enforcing it is unwavering. Following review, we have made the decision to suspend Mr. Oakman indefinitely,” CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston said in a statement.

The league stated it condemns gender-based violence in all forms, including but not limited to intimate partner violence, sexual violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment and verbal abuse, coercive control, as well as disrespectful and demeaning attitudes which foster violence or violence tolerance. Whether these behaviours occur in public or private, gender-based violence will not be tolerated by the CFL.

Oakman was signed by the Alouettes as a free agent in February, though Montreal chose to release the veteran following the league’s decision to suspend him.

“We hold everyone in our organization to the highest standard of integrity and respect both on and off the field,” general manager Danny Maciocia said in a statement. “We’ve decided to release Shawn Oakman because his actions go against our core values.”

Through 76 games in his CFL career, the 33-year-old registered 156 defensive tackles, 27 sacks, five forced fumbles, one interception and one special teams tackle. Oakman won a Grey Cup with the Toronto Argonauts in 2022. He’s been named an East Division all-star three times and earned one All-CFL nod.

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