The Sydney Morning Herald
· collected 2026-10-06 · by Fiona Byrne, Christine Lacy, Angelica Snowden
Billionaire Melbourne businessman Dennis Bastas and his DBG Health empire has severed all commercial ties with accused domestic violence perpetrator Sam Wood as the health and fitness identity remains in custody.
asserted
identity → sever → custody
Wood’s lawyer has indicated the 46-year-old would defend the charges.
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old → indicate → charges
DBG Health said in a statement on Tuesday that the dumping of Wood was “effective immediately”.
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dumping → say → Wood
“Yesterday (Monday), we announced that Sam Wood had been placed on indefinite leave.
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Wood → announce → leave
As a result of further considerations, DBG Health has now terminated all arrangements,” said a statement released by DBG Health and attributed to Bastas.
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statement → terminate → Bastas
“28 Group (the parent company of Wood’s fitness business) will continue its great work under the leadership of Mark Watkin, supported by a broader group of experienced and respected health and wellness experts including trainers and employees.
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Group → continue → trainers
“DBG Health does not tolerate domestic violence in any form, and our thoughts are with anyone affected by it.
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thoughts → tolerate → it
“As the matter is before the court, please understand that we don’t think it is appropriate to make any further comment at this stage.”
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it → understand → stage
Bastas bought the 28 by Sam Wood health and fitness business from the former Bachelor star in 2022 for $71 million.
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Bastas → buy → million
Under the commercial arrangements that are now severed, Wood remained as frontman for the online workout platform.
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Wood → sever → platform
After the transaction, Wood held no equity in the enterprise.
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Wood → hold → enterprise
On Tuesday, Wood’s face remained prominent over the business’s website.
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face → remain → website
Wood remains in custody in the Queensland town of in Maroochydore after being charged on Sunday with assault occasioning bodily harm (domestic violence) and strangulation in a domestic setting following an incident in Noosa on Saturday night.
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Wood → remain → night
Defence lawyer Mathew Cuskelly said a bail application would be made on Thursday and that the charges would be defended.
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charges → say → Thursday
Wood made his fortune off the 28 fitness platform, which was aimed women with accessible workout and meal plans to fit around their busy schedules.
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which → make → schedules
Fitness identities and celebrities Tiffiny Hall, Jules Robinson, Tania Monk – who is known online as @fitafter40_faf – and former Home and Away actor Tammin Sursok began distancing themselves from Wood on Monday following news of his arrest.
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who → know → arrest
Hall, a high-profile trainer whose workout videos appear prominently on the 28 by Sam Wood social media pages, released a statement late on Monday saying she had “no ongoing role or involvement with the program”.
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she → appear → program
“I have zero tolerance for domestic and family violence, and for violence of any kind,” said Hall, who is an advocate for self-defence and women’s safety.
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who → have → defence
“It is unacceptable and entirely at odds with the standards, core values and culture I wish to cultivate.
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I → wish → standards
“I am shocked and disturbed by the charges against Sam Wood reported in the media.
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I → shock → media
As the matter is before the court, I will not comment on it.
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I → comment → it
“Before this news, my time with 28 by Sam Wood had already come to an end.
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time → come → end
“My thoughts are with any victim-survivors of domestic and family violence, and with anyone distressed or triggered by these reports.
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thoughts → distress → reports
I will continue to empower women to be safe, strong and supported in any way I can.”
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I → continue → way
Robinson, an influencer, body positive entrepreneur and fellow reality TV contestant, also said she had ended her partnership with Wood’s fitness empire.
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she → say → empire
Their safety, wellbeing and empowerment are at the heart of what I stand for,” Robinson, a former Married At First Sight participant who had been working with the 28 brand, posted on social media.
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who → stand → media
“I’m very conscious of who I choose to align myself with, both personally and professionally.
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I → ’m → myself
My values never falter, regardless of the person or partnership.
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values → falter → person
“While I won’t comment on a matter before the courts, I stand firmly against domestic and family violence in all forms.
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I → comment → forms
“In light of the circumstances, I have made the decision to end my partnership with 28 by Sam Wood.
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I → make → Wood
This is a decision I have made in line with my values and what I believe is right.”
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I → make → values
Ready-made meal business Foxes Den continued the exodus, confirming it had ended its partnership with 28 by Sam Wood.
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it → make → Wood
“We are shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the charges involving Sam Wood,” Foxes Den said in a statement read.
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Den → shock → statement
“We’re aware of the serious charges that have been reported, and while this matter is before the courts, we’ve made the decision to step away from this partnership.
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we → ’re → partnership
“We stand firmly against domestic and family violence in all its forms.”
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We → stand → forms
One of the first to break ties was Monk, known online as @fitafter40_faf, a trainer on the 28 platform.
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One → break → platform
Monk said she was “shocked and deeply saddened” by the news about Wood’s arrest.
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she → say → arrest
“For many years, I have worked incredibly hard to build a reputation based on trust, integrity and advocating for women.
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I → work → women
That work means EVERYTHING to me,” she posted on Instagram.
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she → mean → Instagram
“You have trusted me with your health, your stories, your struggles and your successes.
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You → trust → health
…and 9 more, not listed.
The Aporia
