August 12, 2022

Winnipeg
25° C, A few clouds

Full Forecast

Contact Us Subscribe Manage Subscription Chat with us
Log in Create Free Account Help Chat with us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising Contact
    • Submit a News Tip
    • Subscribe to Newsletters

    • Finding your
      information

    • My Account
    • Manage my Subscription
    • Change Password

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate

    • Log Out
    • Log in
    • Create Free Account
    • Help

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate
  • Coronavirus Coverage
  • Replica E-Edition
    • About the E-Edition
    • Winnipeg Free Press
    • Community Review East
    • Community Review West
  • Above the Fold
  • Front page
  • Arts & Life
    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Book Club
    • Cannabis
    • Celebrities
    • Diversions
    • Puzzles
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Your Health
    • Life & Style
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Science & Technology
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
    • Manitoba's Top Employers
  • Canada
  • Local
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Auto Racing
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • Golf
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Horse Racing
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
  • World
  • Reader BridgeNEW
  • WFP EventsNEW
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • Carrier Positions & Retailer Requests
    • FP Newspapers Inc.
    • History
    • Internships
    • Job Opportunities
    • News Café
    • Privacy Policy
    • Retail Locations
    • Staff Biographies
    • Terms and Conditions
  • Archives
  • Free Press Community Review
    • All Free Press Community Review News
    • East Edition
    • West Edition
    • Sports
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • E-Editions
  • Classifieds
  • Contests
  • Coupons
    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print Coupons
    • Ripley's Aquariums Coupons
    • The Bay Coupons
    • Staples Canada Coupons
    • Altitude Sports Coupons
    • Nike Coupons
    • Tuango Coupons
    • Ebay Canada Coupons
    • Sport Chek Coupons
    • Roots Coupons
  • LifestylesNEW
    • All Lifestyles
    • Business Hub
    • Community
    • Drink & Dine
    • Life
    • Wellness
    • Whiskers & Wings
    • Sponsored Articles
  • Homes
    • Property Listings
    • Featured News
    • Renovation and design
    • New homes
    • Resale homes
  • Newsletters
  • Obituaries
  • Puzzles
  • Photo and Book store
  • More

©2022 FP Newspaper Inc.

Close
  • Quick Links

    • Coronavirus Coverage
    • Federal Election
    • Above the Fold
    • Home
    • Local
    • Canada
    • World
    • Classifieds
    • Special Coverage
    • Newsletters
    • Obituaries
    • Photo and Book store
    • Archives
    • Contests
    • Publications
    • Sponsored Content
    • Privacy Policy

    Ways to support us

    • Pay it Forward program
    • Subscribe
    • Support Faith coverage
    • Support Arts coverage
  • Replica E-Edition

    • About the E-Edition
    • Winnipeg Free Press
    • Community Review East
    • Community Review West

    Business

    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
  • Arts & Life

    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Cannabis
    • Celebrities
    • Diversions
    • Puzzles
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Your Health
    • Life & Style
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Science & Technology
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Sports

    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Auto Racing
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • Golf
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Horse Racing
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
  • Opinion

    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor

    Media

    • All Media
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos

    Homes

    • Property Listings
    • Featured News
    • Renovation and design
    • New homes
    • Resale homes
  • Canstar Community News

    • All Free Press Community Review News
    • East Edition
    • West Edition
    • Sports
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • E-Editions
  • Coupons

    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print Coupons
    • Ripley's Aquariums Coupons
    • The Bay Coupons
    • Staples Canada Coupons
    • Altitude Sports Coupons
    • Nike Coupons
    • Tuango Coupons
    • Ebay Canada Coupons
    • Sport Chek Coupons
    • Roots Coupons
  • About Us

    • About Us
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • Carrier Positions & Retailer Requests
    • FP Newspapers Inc.
    • History
    • Internships
    • Job Opportunities
    • News Café
    • Privacy Policy
    • Retail Locations
    • Staff Biographies
    • Terms and Conditions
The Free Press

ABOVE THE FOLD

Subscribe
Articles Read Your Balance +tax

Borsa 'too good to pass up'

Bombers draft choice explains banned-substance suspension, says he's ready to play

By: Taylor Allen | Posted: 7:00 PM CDT Thursday, May. 13, 2021
Last Modified: 8:49 PM CDT Thursday, May. 13, 2021 | Updates

Scroll
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Print
  • Email
  • Save to Read Later

Kyle Borsa was expecting good news.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/5/2021 (456 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Kyle Borsa was expecting good news. 

It was November 2018 and the running back was called to the office to speak with the University of Regina Rams head coach Stephen Bryce and athletic director Lisa Robertson. He was excited about the meeting, as he figured they were going to inform him he was going to be named a team captain.

Instead, the news they delivered ended up signalling the end of Borsa’s U Sports career. 

The previous month, Borsa was randomly drug tested after a practice. He ended up testing positive for a banned substance called higenamine which got into his system from an over-the-counter supplement. Borsa, who also competed on Regina’s track and field team, was hit with a two-year ban.

PIPER SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY</p><p>University of Regina Rams running back Kyle Borsa was called to the office to speak with the University of Regina Rams head coach Stephen Bryce and athletic director Lisa Robertson in November 2018.</p>

PIPER SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY

University of Regina Rams running back Kyle Borsa was called to the office to speak with the University of Regina Rams head coach Stephen Bryce and athletic director Lisa Robertson in November 2018.

"It was such a simple thing. I just wanted energy throughout the day ‘cause we were in classes, team lifts, film study, and then we got practice for two hours before going home and doing homework in between. I was just bagged, honestly," said Borsa in a phone interview from Regina. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers selected the 22-year-old in the fifth round of last week’s CFL Draft.

"So, what I did, I went to a local supplement store in Regina and bought a pre-workout supplement just based off price and what the clerk was telling me. Obviously, where I went wrong was I didn’t look into it or research it or anything like that."

Borsa appealed the decision. He was upfront and honest about what happened, but his suspension was only reduced to 16 months. It ended up not mattering anyway as the 2020 Canada West season was cancelled owing to the pandemic.

Borsa hasn’t played a game in 931 days and counting. 

"It was just two years of constantly being let down. Obviously, when I got suspended, that was the hardest part just because I felt like I didn’t really do anything wrong. Well, obviously I did something wrong, but I felt like I wasn’t a cheater by any means and I felt like they were treating me like one, so that was the toughest part… Then the 2020 season, they cancelled that. It was just constant letdowns," he said.

PIPER SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY</p><p>Borsa ended up testing positive for a banned substance called higenamine which got into his system from an over-the-counter supplement in 2018.</p>

PIPER SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY

Borsa ended up testing positive for a banned substance called higenamine which got into his system from an over-the-counter supplement in 2018.

"I stayed true to who I was throughout the whole time and I knew I wanted to play professional football one day. Even if it didn’t work out with me and I didn’t get a shot with a team, I was still able to look myself in the mirror and say I did everything I could and that was good enough for me so that was my thought process."

The Bombers know Borsa has to knock off some rust — as do all the players coming out of the U Sports ranks these days — but general manager Kyle Walters said the Saskatchewan product was "too good to pass up." 

Jumping back to 2018, Borsa started the season as Regina’s backup running back but ended up making three starts as the sophomore who was their starter went down with a concussion in Week 1. Despite the limited action, Borsa still managed to finish second in Canada West in both all-purpose yards with 1,340 — the second-most in a single season in school history — and 613 rushing yards.

He also led the conference with six rushing touchdowns and had his best performance of the season against the Manitoba Bisons in Week 5 when he exploded for a career-high 294 all-purpose yards. The suspension didn’t allow him to build off of that success, but he’s been putting in the work during his time away from the gridiron. In the CFL’s virtual combine prior to the draft, Borsa ran a 4.46-second time in the 40-yard dash which was the fastest of any prospect.

He only has three career starts to his name and is coming off an extremely long layoff — two things that don’t exactly scream ‘can’t-miss prospect’ — but Borsa said he’s worth the pick.

PIPER SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY</p><p>Borsa appealed the suspension.</p>

PIPER SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY

Borsa appealed the suspension.

"I think my combination of speed and strength is pretty rare to find in Canada," he said. Borsa impressed across the board at the combine as he benched 225 pounds for 22 reps, had a 6.8-second three-cone drill, a 4.0-second shuttle run, and a broad jump of 10 feet 2 1/8 inches.

"I think if you look at the combine numbers and take those into account and the type of player that I am, I think you’ll see that it’s worth taking a chance on a guy like that with that athleticism. And my tape looks exceptional from 2018, so that helps. But yeah, I’d say my speed, strength, and athleticism are why the Bombers are taking a chance on me."

The Bombers are loaded with Canadian running backs, as Andrew Harris, Johnny Augustine, and Brady Oliveira are all still in the fold. The CFL won’t make anything official about 2021 until at least mid-June, but if the season happens and Borsa is in town in mid-July for training camp, the 6-foot, 200-pounder is going to have his work cut out for him to stand out. 

"That’s obviously a very elite group of guys that are in the running back room. To be considered worthy to be in there with them, obviously, the Bombers staff sees something in me to put me in there with them. I’m just hoping I can go in there and learn," he said.

"I'm not too worried about who's there right now. It's kind of out of my control so I'm just gonna go there, play my game, and do what I have to do to earn a roster spot." ‐ Blue Bombers draft choice Kyle Borsa

PIPER SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY</p><p>Jumping back to 2018, Borsa started the season as Regina's backup running back but ended up making three starts as the sophomore who was their starter went down with a concussion in Week 1.</p>

PIPER SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY

Jumping back to 2018, Borsa started the season as Regina's backup running back but ended up making three starts as the sophomore who was their starter went down with a concussion in Week 1.

"I’m not too worried about who’s there right now. It’s kind of out of my control so I’m just gonna go there, play my game, and do what I have to do to earn a roster spot."

As for being from Riderville and getting drafted to Bomberland, that’s fine by Borsa. He won’t be the only one ditching the green for the Blue and Gold as the Bombers drafted Regina linebacker Robbie Lowes in the fourth round.

"There are lots of people that are saying ‘How am I supposed to wear Blue?’ and all of that, but for the most part, everyone is really happy for me. Personally, I wouldn’t be any happier than I am right now if I was on the Riders. I’m good with where I’m at."

 

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31

Taylor Allen

Taylor Allen
Reporter

Eighteen years old and still in high school, Taylor got his start with the Free Press on June 1, 2011. Well, sort of...

   Read full biography

History

Updated on Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 8:49 PM CDT: Updates story to final, edited version.

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Print
  • Email
  • Save to Read Later
  • Report Error
  • Submit a Tip
  • Refund
  • The Free Press is certified by

The Winnipeg Free Press invites you to share your opinion on this story in a letter to the editor. A selection of letters to the editor are published daily.

To submit a letter:
• fill out the form on this page, or
• email letters@freepress.mb.ca, or
• mail Letters to the Editor, 1355 Mountain Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2X 3B6.

Letters must include the writer’s full name, address, and a daytime phone number. Letters are edited for length and clarity.

Top