Edmonton Elks' Darien Newell suspended nine games for second doping violation
An independent arbitrator dismissed Newell's appeal and upheld the suspension, which follows positive tests for cardarine and the steroid drostanolone in May.
The CFL has suspended Edmonton Elks defensive lineman Darien Newell for nine games following a second positive doping result. The suspension stems from positive tests in May for cardarine and drostanolone, an anabolic-androgenic steroid. Newell appealed, but an independent arbitrator dismissed the appeal and imposed the ban on Wednesday.
Newell's first violation came at the 2025 CFL combine, where he tested positive for nine banned substances. After the Elks selected him in the second round, 10th overall, in that year's draft, he was ruled ineligible to sign a CFL contract for one calendar year. He signed with Edmonton on May 4, 2026, after serving that ban, and the May test that triggered the latest suspension was conducted under the league's mandatory Doping Control Program for players with a prior violation.
Edmonton vice-president of football operations and general manager Ed Hervey said in a statement he was disappointed by the violation but called it an isolated incident that does not reflect the organization's players, coaches or staff. The team said it would not comment further out of respect for Newell's privacy and the league process.
Under CFL policy, a first violation carries a two-game suspension, a second carries nine games, a third results in a one-year suspension, and a fourth brings a lifetime ban. Newell, a six-foot-two, 289-pound Brampton, Ont., native, played collegiately at Queen's University, where he recorded 92 tackles, 18 sacks and was twice named a U Sports first-team All-Canadian.
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