Advocates who deal with sexual assault, harassment commend Sask. Roughriders on Ajou Ajou firing

The Saskatchewan Roughriders' decision to kick receiver Ajou Ajou off the team last week sets a positive example, says Jill Arnott, a women's and gender studies professor at the University of Regina.

"This is how it starts. And so we need to hold up those models and those examples of change where we can, because that is how the change happens,” Arnott said in an interview with CBC. 

“We're talking about changing a culture that has allowed this and encouraged this kind of behavior and these attitudes for so long.”

An outside investigation concluded Ajou violated the CFL's gender-based violence and harassment policy. He has been suspended by the CFL for the entire pre-season and at least six regular season games.

The league said he was aggressive and engaged in what it calls "unwelcome contact with women" at a Regina restaurant on the day of the Grey Cup parade in Regina in November 2025.

The league said it was made aware of multiple allegations in late January and immediately initiated the investigation, which it said included interviews with Ajou, multiple witnesses and complainants.

Arnott said the Riders' decisions to have an outside party conduct the investigation and then swiftly oust Ajou after learning what it found shows the strength of the team's leadership and makes its expectations for its internal culture clear.

Josh Haugerud, stakeholder engagement specialist for Sexual Assault Services of Saskatchewan (SASS), said he agrees the Riders' quick action is an example for the rest of the CFL.

"They took some leadership and accountability in a situation that wasn't great. And they've set the tone for their culture within their organization, but also for anybody who follows the Riders,” Haugerud said.

In a statement