Saskatchewan Roughriders' Darian Durant (L) throws the ball as Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Kenny Mainor pressures him during the first half of their CFL game in Regina September 4, 2011. REUTERS/Fred GreensladeFred Greenslade/Reuters
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have been fined by the Canadian Football League for staging an unsanctioned workout.
The CFL announced Friday it had fined the 'Riders' $5,000 for violating the Collective Bargaining Agreement which allows for only "one sanctioned off-season workout with voluntary player participation."
The 'Riders were penalized for using veteran players during a workout in Florida last month. One of those players was believed to be quarterback Darian Durant.
CFL teams are able to hold only one voluntary workout between Feb. 1 and April 30. The workouts can last only three days for no more than 4.5 hours a day. Full gear and full contact is not permitted.
Team and executive fines go to the CFL office and used for league operations while player fines go to the CFL Players Association.
The Roughriders also announced that it had signed Durant and offensive lineman Chris Best to contract extensions.The deals will keep them both with Saskatchewan through the 2014 season.
The five-foot-11, 214-pound Durant is entering his seventh season with the Roughriders. Durant, 29, began the club's starter in 2009 and led Saskatchewan to consecutive Grey Cup appearances (2009-'10).
"We're extremely happy to have come to an agreement on terms with Darian," general manager Brendan Taman said in a statement. "The CFL is a quarterback-driven league, and Darian has proven he can lead this team."
Saskatchewan selected the six-foot-four, 315-pound Best in the first round, fourth overall, in the 2005 CFL draft. The 29-year-old Calgary native has been the club's starting right guard since 2009 season and was its nominee for the CFL's outstanding lineman award last season.
"Chris is one of the best up and coming offensive lineman in the league," said Taman. "He had a great season last year and keeping him under contract for the future was big priority for us."
FIles from The Canadian Press were used in this report