Gargiulo suffered a broken leg plus torn ligaments and tendons and required surgery to put a plate in his leg following an illegal block by B.C. Lions offensive tackle Jason Jimenez in Calgary’s regular-season finale last year. The block came on the last play of the first half.

“I am retiring right now because I’m not prepared to compete at camp at the level I need to,” said Gargiulo, who would have entered his second season with the Stampeders. “It’s the best situation for me and for the club. I’ll be working hard and I still hope to return as soon as I can.”

Jimenez was handed a one-game suspension by the CFL. He launched an appeal, and an arbitrator ruled the contact was accidental and set aside the suspension. The arbitrator overturned the suspension earlier this month.

The Stamps begin training camp on Sunday, June 1.