In a statement, Josh Addo-Carr thanked the fans of the Canterbury Bulldogs for their support following his sacking.
He was let go after he tested positive to cocaine earlier this year. The former NSW representative met with the club’s board members before he was released.
As per his contract, the 29-year-old was supposed to earn $550,000 annually.
However, he failed to convince the Bulldogs to keep him when he met with his managers, Elias Tabchouri and Mario Tartak, and representatives from the RLPA.
The morning after he was released, Addo-Carr expressed his gratitude to the fans and thanked them for their support.
Addo-Carr stated that he came to the club at its lowest point in order to make a change. Unfortunately, due to certain circumstances, he was not able to stay with the team. He also thanked the fans for their support. Despite his positive test results, he denied that he took drugs.
The Bulldogs stated that their decision to release Addo-Carr was not taken lightly. He was a valuable part of the team for the past three seasons. The club also acknowledged his popularity among the fans. They expressed their regret at how his time with the organization ended.
Despite the success of the season, the club noted that Addo-Carr’s positive test and the lack of transparency regarding his situation were both considered serious breaches of the organization’s standards. The National Rugby League then suspended him for four matches and fined him $15,000.
In their statement, the Bulldogs noted that they will continue supporting their players through thick and thin. They only succeed when they have total trust and transparency.
The organization also thanked Addo-Carr for his contributions to the club and wished him well in the future. They noted that their welfare unit would remain available to him and his family during this time.