CFL suspends veteran quarterback Collaros for failing to respond to off-season test
The league announced Wednesday officials with the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) twice tried to reach Collaros by phone and another time via email over a two-hour period. It added Collaros, 36, failed to respond within 24 hours, which usually would result in a two-game suspension.
The league said after a review it shortened the suspension to one game, citing 'extenuating circumstances.'
The CFL also stated Collaros has never tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug under the joint CFL/CFL Players' Association drug policy.
The CFL and CFLPA have also agreed to enhance contact protocols for off-season testing of players.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
'Zach Collaros is one of the most respected leaders in our locker room and across the CFL,' Bombers president Wade Miller said in a statement. 'He's a professional in every sense — committed, accountable, and a true example of what it means to be a Blue Bomber.
Story continues below advertisement
'There was no intent for wrongdoing by Zach — just a missed step in the process. Both the CFL and CFLPA have since clarified and improved their communication protocols to help ensure this doesn't happen to other players in the CFL.'
Under terms of the drug policy, suspended players can't play in regular-season or playoff games. It is up to their club whether they participate in team activities, such as training camp, exhibition games, practices or meetings.
'Zach will miss our first regular-season game but will continue to fully participate in training camp and pre-season games,' Miller said. 'As an organization, we're also reviewing and strengthening how we support players in navigating off-season requirements.
'Zach remains an incredibly valued leader on and off the field, and we look forward to having him back under centre June 21 (Week 2).'
Winnipeg kicks off its 2025 season hosting B.C. on June 12 and then visits the Lions the following week.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
an hour ago
- Global News
Hockey players' acquittal reverberates in southwestern Ontario city after ruling
The acquittal of five former members of Canada's world junior hockey team who were accused of sexual assault continues to reverberate in the southwestern Ontario city where their high-profile trial played out. Dozens gathered outside the London, Ont., courthouse Thursday evening to show support for the complainant, while rallies earlier in the day saw a mix of supporters for the woman and the players. Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote were all acquitted of sexual assault, and McLeod of a separate charge of being a party to the offence of sexual assault, in a ruling the defence deemed a 'resounding vindication.' Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia found the complainant's testimony was not credible or reliable, and that there were 'troubling aspects' in how she delivered some of her evidence. The judge said the complainant tended to blame others for inconsistencies in her narrative and exaggerated her level of intoxication that night. Story continues below advertisement Carroccia said she found there was 'consent not vitiated by fear,' noting the absence of physical force, violence or threats during the 2018 encounter. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Stephanie Richardson, who participated in the Thursday evening rally, said she was 'disappointed and frustrated' after the ruling, but took solace in the solidarity on display at the gathering. 'It's a very positive tone,' she said. 3:56 Why the judge acquitted all 5 former Hockey Canada players in sex assault trial Jessica Bonilla-Damptey, director of the Sexual Assault Centre (Hamilton and Area), also took part in the event and said the show of support was uplifting. The ruling came roughly seven years after the incident that led to the charges — an encounter that took place in a hotel room in the early hours of June 19, 2018. The incident first came to the public's attention in 2022, after TSN reported that Hockey Canada had quietly settled a lawsuit filed against the sports organization and eight unnamed players for an undisclosed amount. Story continues below advertisement Court heard the organization moved ahead with the settlement without the players' knowledge or agreement. David Humphrey, who represents McLeod, said after Thursday's ruling that the 'one-sided narrative' laid out in the lawsuit unfairly shaped public perception for years and created a lasting and false impression of guilt that harmed his client's reputation and career.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Maltos' late go-ahead field goal lifts Alouettes to 23-21 win over Stampeders
CALGARY – Jose Maltos received a hero's welcome from his teammates after kicking the longest field goal of his CFL career. Maltos booted the go-ahead 58-yard field goal with 1:10 remaining as the Montreal Alouettes (5-2) earned a 23-21 win over the Calgary Stampeders (5-2) in front of 19,863 fans at McMahon Stadium on Thursday. When the Mexican-born kicker returned to his team's locker room, he was mauled by his teammates who congratulated him while chanting: 'Olé, Olé, Olé, Olé.' 'It feels good – important game, important kick,' said Maltos, whose previous longest kick was from 53 yards out. 'My teammates are great. I love them and I'm grateful to have them on my side. 'We're happy because we need these kind of wins. Every kick is important to me, so that was pretty good.' Following his heroics – which included four other field goals, a convert and a single – Maltos received praise from Montreal head coach Jason Maas. 'He's made some clutch kicks for us since he's taken over and he's got an outstanding percentage career-wise already,' Maas said. 'He just has a good knack for those types of moments and that's what he's shown us. That was a tremendous (game-winning) kick. It was one of the best kicks I've seen.' Montreal quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson completed 30-of-40 passes for 280 yards to go with one touchdown to Chris Spieker and one interception. 'Man, we needed that one,' Bethel-Thompson said. 'It feels great to finally play my role for this team. It's a special locker room. What coach Maas has built is a special place and I'm just so grateful to have done my job. That was an unbelievable kick at the end by Jose.' Dedrick Mills had a pair of rushing touchdowns for the Stampeders (5-2), who had won their previous three games. 'We ran the ball well for three quarters, but not the fourth quarter,' said Calgary coach Dave Dickenson. 'And that's when you need to run the ball … and we just didn't do it.' Calgary quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw a touchdown pass to Dominique Rhymes and also completed a short pass to Erik Brooks in the end zone for a two-point convert after Mills' second rushing score. Near the end of the third quarter, Adams scrambled out of the pocket and ran for a seven-yard gain before he was hit hard by Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette. Although he got to his feet and walked to the sidelines, he was assessed for a head injury and didn't return to the game. 'I'm expecting it was on the one hit.' Dickenson said. 'I'm not really going to speculate on what happened, but I know that he went in the tent and didn't come back, so that was obviously something that we know can happen. 'A lot of teams are playing with their backup QB, including Montreal, so we have to be able to function and get points and get first downs, and we weren't able to do it.' Defensive back Adrian Green picked off an errant pass by Bethel-Thompson for his league-leading fourth interception of the season and ran it back to Montreal's 44-yard line to help set up Calgary's first touchdown. Four plays later, Mills ran for a seven-yard touchdown with 1:53 remaining in the first quarter, which gave Calgary a 6-0 lead after a missed convert by Rene Paredes. After Tyler Snead's 42-yard diving catch put Montreal at Calgary's nine-yard line, the Stampeders held the Alouettes to a 10-yard Maltos field goal. Adams then engineered a five-play, 77-yard drive that he finished off by tossing a 33-yard TD pass to Rhymes at 5:10 of the second quarter to put the Stamps up 13-3. The Als responded at 9:18 when Spieker caught a seven-yard TD pass from Bethel-Thompson to cap off a quick eight-play, 77-yard drive. On the ensuing kickoff, Maltos booted an 88-yard single to pull the Als within two points of the Stamps. Maltos finished off the first half by making a 36-yard field goal with no time left on the clock to put Montreal ahead 14-13. The Stamps drove the ball 65 yards down the field before Mills ran in for a nine-yard score on the sixth play of the drive at 3:43 of the third quarter. A successful two-point convert gave the Stamps a 21-14 edge. Thanks to a pair of field goals by Maltos in the fourth quarter – a 28-yard kick at 6:22 and another from 20 yards out at 12:17 – Montreal cut Calgary's lead to just 21-20. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 24, 2025.
Calgary Herald
6 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
5 Takeaways as tired-looking Calgary Stampeders fall to Montreal Alouettes on late 58-yard field goal
It looked another winning week for the Calgary Stampeders … Article content Another K.O. of a contender for the Canadian Football League belt. Article content Article content But after handling everything the three-down circuit has thrown at them, it didn't go their way Thursday night in a 23-21 loss to the Montreal Alouettes at McMahon Stadium. Article content Despite two touchdowns and a pile of yards from running back Dedrick Mills and a gutsy effort amid a bunch of games in a short period of time, the host Stampeders were dropped by the 2023 Grey Cup champions, who have been championship calibre for the past few CFL campaigns. Article content Article content 'Effort was good on our end,' said Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. 'We had the lead most of the game. It was a hard-fought game. I think both teams were digging deep on their roster. Article content Article content 'We kind of ran out of some people there, and we were trying to adjust. And I just didn't think we played winning football. We took too many penalties, and obviously, ball security (was a problem), as well. We had our chances — we just didn't get the job done.' Article content It didn't help that Stamps QB Vernon Adams Jr. was ineffective for long stretches of the game and then was lost to them for the fourth quarter, when he was sidelined presumably by a CFL spotter for a concussion check. Article content Article content Article content The end result kept the Stamps from climbing into top spot all by themselves in the CFL. Instead, the 5-2 record matches them with the Alouettes and leaves them behind the first-place 5-1 Saskatchewan Roughriders. Article content Article content 'Hard-fought game — we knew it was going to be a hard-fought battle,' said Stampeders receiver Dominique Rhymes. '(Maltos) made a 58-yarder. Hats off to them. That's a great team. It was a battle. It was what we expected.'
