The Canadian Football League has suspended Hamilton Tiger-Cats offensive lineman Colin Kelly for two games after he tested positive for the banned substances GHRP-2 and metabolite (GHRP-2 1-3 acid).
Both drugs are growth hormone Secretagogues and are considered to have performance-enhancing properties.
Under the CFL’s joint drug policy with the CFLPA, players who test positive or fail to provide a sample face a two-game suspension for a first violation. A second violation carries a nine-game suspension, a third violation results in a one-year suspension, and a lifetime ban is issued in the event of a fourth violation.
Suspended players cannot participate in regular season or postseason games. It is at the Club’s discretion whether to allow players to participate in other team activities, such as training camp, preseason games, practices and meetings.
Kelly played two games for the Edmonton Elks in 2022, before being traded to Hamilton in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2023 CFL Draft. He would go on to start 14 games at tackle.
The 33-year-old has played 90 games over seven seasons in the CFL with Hamilton, Edmonton (2017-22), and Ottawa (2014-15). The six-foot-five, 298-pound native of Longview, Wa. also spent time in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs (2013-14) and San Francisco 49ers (2016).
Kelly is slated to hit free agency on February 14. He will be subject to mandatory drug testing next season and required to participate in an assessment and clinical evaluation to determine if additional counseling is needed.
