Hughes out against Stampeders after impaired driving charges

Charleston Hughes will not play against the Calgary Stampeders after all.

Hughes was charged with impaired driving and refusing to take a breathalyzer after police allegedly found him unresponsive behind the wheel of a vehicle pulled over on Regina’s Ring Road in the early morning hours of Oct. 11.

Just one day after head coach Chris Jones confirmed the star defensive end would be in the line-up against their west division rivals, the club changed its mind.

In a statement issued Friday morning, the Riders said it had continued to gather information about the charges including “a thorough review of our team rules and the CFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement as they pertain to player discipline.”

As a result, Hughes – the CFL sack leader – has been removed from the active roster and issued the maximum disciplinary fine allowed under the collective bargaining agreement.

Court proceedings

Drugs and weapons bust in Stanley Mission, results in two year sentence

15h ago

health care

La Loche recipient of new portable blood analyzer, printer kit

16h ago

Crime

Dangerous driving report at Red Wing, leads to arrest of man with gun

19h ago

The Roughriders said in refusing to provide a breath sample to police “Hughes demonstrated behaviour directly in conflict with the Club’s values and expectations – which include respecting police and police procedures.”

Hughes apologized to fans and the organization while speaking with the media on Wednesday, calling the charges embarrassing.

The Roughriders play the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday with first place and a home playoff game still on the line.