Some breaking news this week that Bomber’s starting quarterback Zach Collaros is facing a suspension around drug testing.

Collaros did not test positive for performance enhancing drugs, he simply did not respond within the mandated hours.

While there is a lot of speculation flying around, this is the best report I have seen so far:

Dave Naylor TSN Football Insider

The Canadian Football League announced Wednesday that it has suspended Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros one regular-season game for failing to respond to requests for drug testing by officials from the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES).

A statement released by the CFL says the centre attempted to reach him twice by phone, once by text, and once by email over a two-hour period and did not reply within the required 24-hour period.

While the league’s CFL/CFLPA drug policy calls for a two-game suspension over such occurrences, Collaros will miss just one game under consideration of “extenuating circumstances.”

The league was clear that Collaros has never tested positive for any performance-enhancing drug.

Under the current drug policy, CCES officials have not been allowed to contact teams as a means of reaching a player who does not respond to requests for testing. That rule has been changed starting next off-season, so CCES will be able to request the help of teams to reach players who do not initially respond.

Under terms of his suspension, Collaros will be allowed to practice and participate in all team activities, including exhibition games, besides one regular-season game.

“Zach Collaros is one of the most respected leaders in our locker room and across the CFL,” Blue Bombers President and CEO Wade Miller said in a statement. “He’s a professional in every sense—committed, accountable, and a true example of what it means to be a Blue Bomber.

“There was no intent for wrongdoing by Zach—just a missed step in the process. Both the CFL and CFLPA have since clarified and improved their communication protocols to help ensure this doesn’t happen to other players in the CFL.

“Zach will miss our first regular season game but will continue to fully participate in training camp and preseason games. As an organization, we’re also reviewing and strengthening how we support players in navigating offseason requirements.

“Zach remains an incredibly valued leader on and off the field, and we look forward to having him back under centre on June 21.”

Collaros, 36, is a two-time CFL Most Outstanding Player and three-time Grey Cup Champion.

Winnipeg has Week 1 bye and will open the regular season hosting the BC Lions on June 12th.

Notables

*The process seems ridiculous. Look, I’m not giving a bye to Collaros, he knew the process. But if you expect any player to respond when these types of requests come in, “twice by phone, once by text, and once by email over a two-hour period” and then reply within the required 24-hour period, something is wrong with that system. I’m shocked more players have not been suspended! My own mother could easily call me twice, text me once and send me an email…and I might not get back to her in 24 hours.

*”While the league’s CFL/CFLPA drug policy calls for a two-game suspension over such occurrences, Collaros will miss just one game under consideration of “extenuating circumstances.” I have to wonder what exactly the “extenuating circumstances” were. I would have to imagine that Collaros had somewhat of a decent reason why he did not/could not respond in time; yet the league felt like it still had to take some action.

That begs the following question; if the League can take “extenuating circumstances” into consideration and drop it to a 1 game suspension then why even go with a 1 game suspension?

*”There was no intent for wrongdoing by Zach—just a missed step in the process. Both the CFL and CFLPA have since clarified and improved their communication protocols to help ensure this doesn’t happen to other players in the CFL.”

“Under the current dru

g policy, CCES officials have not been allowed to contact teams as a means of reaching a player who does not respond to requests for testing. That rule has been changed starting next off-season, so CCES will be able to request the help of teams to reach players who do not initially respond.”

Translation: The CCES have realized that their protocol was a terrible process. Yet for some reason they have kept that protocol for this year. Likely, because if they would have changed it now, the Collaros suspension would have seemed unfair. Here is a better solution; drop the Collaros suspension and change the protocol immediately. If it is flawed, why wait until next season?

*Lastly, Collaros will miss their first game of the season. Collaros started last season slow, in part because he did not play the pre-season games. The Bombers have a chance this year to change that as the suspension does not impact the pre-season game. So the Bombers better think long and hard about their approach to the 2025 season knowing that Week 1 is a bye week and Week 2 Collaros will not be eligable to play.

If I had to add one more thi

ng it would be this. Doug Brown and Paul Friesen went at it on this issue. Tell me who you think is correct.

Tell me what you think about the suspension wherever you are reading this article.

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