The National Rugby League (NRL) acknowledges the response by the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs to the breach of COVID-19 biosecurity protocols at a training session on Thursday 4 June.
The Bulldogs club has quickly accepted responsibility for the breach and has committed to improve its processes to ensure the club complies with the protocols in the future.
Acting chief executive Andrew Abdo recognised the Club's acceptance of wrongdoing but said it was a reminder that Clubs, players and staff must ensure that the game's protocols are complied with at all times.
"Our biosecurity protocols are stricter than current government health orders to ensure the health and safety of all players and staff in our ecosystem,'' he said.
"The rules must be complied with at all times to protect the competition."
The Club has been issued with a breach notice in relation to its failure to comply with the COVID-19 rules. The notice proposes a suspended fine of $25,000.
The NRL was satisfied that the breach was inadvertent, that the club immediately accepted responsibility and has committed to improve its compliance with the protocols. On account of those facts and the club's previous adherence to the protocols, the NRL will suspend the application of the fine for the balance of the 2020 season.
The Bulldogs have been advised there is no contamination risk to the playing group and are allowed to return to training.
