Sam Wood charged with domestic violence offences in Queensland

The fitness influencer and reality TV star Sam Wood has been charged in Queensland with domestic violence offences.

The personal trainer and star of the third season of the Australian version of the reality TV show The Bachelor was charged on Sunday and spent the weekend in police custody after an alleged incident on Saturday night.

Mark Watkin, the acting chief executive of 28 Group, now the parent company of the fitness business 28 by Sam Wood, said on Monday that Wood had stepped down from his role indefinitely.

“We have all been shocked and saddened by the matters involving Sam Wood,” Watkin said.

“We have zero tolerance for domestic violence. While the matter is under investigation and before the court, Sam is on indefinite leave from his duties.

“Our thoughts are with the family and anyone in the community affected by domestic violence.”

A statement posted simultaneously to Wood’s personal Instagram account and that of his wife, Snezana Wood, on Monday morning, said: “This is a difficult time for all of us, we are working through this as a family and are thoroughly co-operating with authorities.”

On Sunday Queensland police confirmed they had arrested a 46-year-old Victorian man and charged him with domestic violence offences.

The arrest came after officers attended a Noosa address about 9pm on Saturday after receiving reports of alleged domestic violence.

The man had been charged with assaulting occasioning bodily harm (domestic violence) and strangulation in a domestic setting, police said.

The alleged victim or victims were not identified.

Wood appeared by video-link in Maroochydore magistrates court on Monday.

Wood was remanded in custody after the court appearance. His lawyer, Mathew Cuskelly, told AAP that Wood would apply for bail.

“He’s simply worried about his family. A bail application will be heard on Thursday,” Cuskelly said.

“The charges will be defended.”

The personal trainer shot to national prominence when he starred as the eponymous Bachelor in the third season of the reality TV show franchise in 2015.

He met Snezana Markoski when she was a contestant on the show. The couple married in 2018 in Byron Bay. They have four daughters, including one from Markoski’s previous relationship.

Wood owns and runs the personal training studio The Woodshed in Brighton East, Melbourne.

He built a fitness and nutrition business, 28 by Sam Wood, off the back of his increased profile from The Bachelor, eventually selling the company in 2022 for $71.2m.

Over the past year, the Australian Taxation Office has been pursuing Wood for alleged unpaid tax debts, reported to be in excess of $7m. Case listings noted in August that a settlement had been reached, with the case dismissed in September.

Wood has recently launched a telehealth-based weight-loss platform aimed at middle-aged women, called Ollo for Women.

Guardian Australia has approached businesses connected to Wood for comment.