The CFL has reinstated Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly with conditions, the league announced Sunday morning.
The decision comes after the league on May 7 suspended Kelly, the CFL’s outstanding player last season, for Toronto’s two exhibition games and first nine regular-season contests for violating the league’s gender-based violence policy.
“The Canadian Football League (CFL) has reinstated Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly on a last-chance agreement provided that he continues to meet a number of ongoing conditions,” the league said in a statement.
“The ongoing mandatory conditions surrounding Mr. Kelly’s reinstatement reflect the need for him to demonstrate a continued commitment to upholding league standards.”
The league said the conditions are confidential and will not be disclosed.
Kelly will rejoin the Argos on Sunday and participate in his first practice with the team.
He’ll be eligible to play for the Argos (5-4) on Thursday night when they host the Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-4-1).
The suspension followed an independent investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both Kelly and the Argos.
The lawsuit was settled in June through mediation involving all of the parties.
Under terms of the suspension, Kelly had to undergo confidential assessments by an independent expert and attend mandatory counselling sessions conducted by a gender-based violence expert.
Both the counselling sessions and assessments had to be satisfactorily completed before the CFL would consider Kelly’s reinstatement and the league did reserve the right to modify his discipline.
Last weekend, the league announced it had received Kelly’s confidential psychological assessment and would complete an examination of the results with the help of experts before making a decision on Kelly’s reinstatement.
Kelly then participated in an in-person discussion with CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie.
Toronto’s 39-25 home win over Calgary on Aug. 9 was its ninth regular-season game after which the Argos went on a bye week.
