The BC Lions will be without one of their best defensive linemen to begin next season.
Sione Teuhema has been suspended for two games after failing a drug test. The 29-year-old American tested positive for Amfetamine, a banned substance in the CFL.
The two-game suspension is standard for a player’s first violation of the CFL/CFLPA drug policy. If Teuhema were to fail another test, he’d be suspended for nine games. A third failed test results in a one-year suspension, and a fourth results in a lifetime ban.
Players who fail a drug test, including Teuhama, will need to undergo further evaluation to determine if they need additional counselling.
Teuhema has played for the Lions since 2022. In the past, he was on the Carolina Panthers practice squad in the NFL and also played indoor arena football professionally.
Teuhema finished last season with seven sacks, a number he’s reached in each of his three CFL seasons thus far. That was good enough to lead the Lions, and he finished just one off the league lead.
The pass-rusher signed a deal in January and is under contract for next season. If the Lions allow it, he can participate in practices and other team activities while suspended.
BC will look very different next season, as the Lions have many new faces in the organization. They have a new general manager and hired former quarterback Buck Pierce as the head coach. The Lions also traded away Vernon Adams Jr., setting Nathan Rourke up to be the starting quarterback.
They’ll need some other players on the defensive line to step up while Teuhema is out to help this new era get off to a strong start.