FRIDAY CFL NOTEBOOK

TORONTO – The CFL has handed Hamilton Tiger-Cats offensive lineman Colin Kelly a two-game suspension for violating the league’s drug policy.

The league says Kelly tested positive for the banned substances GHRP-2 and GHRP-2 1-3 acid, both of which are linked to a growth hormone that stimulates appetite.

It is Kelly’s first violation of the policy.

The CFL’s rules say suspended players cannot play in regular season or post-season games, but clubs can determine whether or not players participate in other team activities, including training camp, practices, meetings and pre-season games.

Kelly, a 33-year-old Oregon State product, appeared in 14 regular-season games for the Tiger-Cats last season.

He’s played seven seasons in the CFL, with stints in Ottawa, Edmonton and Hamilton.

A pair of CFL all-stars have re-signed with their teams.

Wide receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. inked a three-year deal with the Toronto Argonauts on Friday and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers re-signed returner Janarion Grant to a one-year extension.

Gittens, a 25-year-old Canadian, caught 81 passes (fifth best in the CFL) for 1,101 yards (sixth best) and five touchdowns in 2022.

He led the league in yards after catch (483), en route to being named a CFL All-Star for the first time in his career.

The Ottawa native was the Argonauts’ nominee for Most Outstanding Canadian for the second season in a row and was the East Division nominee for the award in 2022.

Gittens led Toronto in every major receiving category in 2022 and had three 100-yard games including a career high 161 at Ottawa in September.

He also caught nine passes for 97 yards and a touchdown in the Argonauts’ Eastern final win over Montreal.

Selected by Toronto in the third round of the 2019 draft, Gittens has played in 44 regular-season games for the club, hauling in 132 receptions for 1,716 yards and nine touchdowns.

Grant led all CFL returners in 2022 with five touchdowns – three in the regular season and two more in the playoffs – with four coming via punt returns and the fifth on a kickoff.

Grant earned a spot on the CFL All-Star team and became the Blue Bombers’ all-time leader in kick return touchdowns in the regular season with seven. He also set a Grey Cup record with a 102-yard return touchdown in last season’s championship loss to Toronto.

The Argonauts later announced that they’ve re-signed Canadian defensive back Royce Metchie for two more years.

Metchie of Brampton, Ont., had a career-high 72 defensive tackles along with two interceptions in 17 regular-season games in his first season with Toronto in 2022.

The 26-year-old was traded to the Argonauts by the Stampeders after three seasons in Calgary where he was drafted to in the third round of the 2018 draft.

He has totalled 151 defensive tackles, 13 special teams tackles and six interceptions in 48 career games.

(Canadian Press)