Blue Bombers fullback Jon Oosterhuis has been fined $200 by the CFL for wearing pink gloves in a regular-season game. The CFL says that violates uniform policy. (Blue Bombers)

Winnipeg Blue Bombers fullback Jon Oosterhuis has been fined by the CFL for wearing pink gloves in support of breast cancer awareness during a recent football game.

After the Oct. 23 game against the Toronto Argonauts, the football league promptly slapped him with a $200 fine for violating the uniform policy, which requires players to wear only team-approved colours.

A number of players on different teams in the league had requested to wear the gloves in games this month, but were given strict orders by the CFL to not do so.

Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive tackle Marcus Adams and Argonauts defensive lineman Kevin Huntley were among those disappointed by the decision.

"It's very frustrating because this is a professional league, and the NFL is a professional league, and that whole league supports pink and breast cancer and stuff like that, and I don't understand why this league don't support it and I never will," Adams told NewsTalk 980, a radio station in Regina.

Blue Bombers cornerback Jovon Johnson wore pink gloves in a recent practice, and is auctioning them off to raise money for breast cancer research. (Blue Bombers)

Oosterhuis could not immediately be reached for comment. The team is in transit to Edmonton for a game on Saturday against the Eskimos.

Several Bombers players wore pink gloves during practice in early October to help raise money for the Keeping Abreast Fund in support of breast cancer reconstruction surgery, research and education. The gloves were autographed and put online for auction.

The league permits wearing of the glove in practices, and teams selling pink versions of their gear, but the items cannot be worn in a regulation game.

The National Football League has a similar uniform rule, but they have an exemption during October — Breast Cancer Awareness Month — permitting players to accent their uniforms in pink.

Throughout the month, players, coaches and even referees can wear pink shoes, sweatbands, mouth guards and chin straps, which are all auctioned off to support the American Cancer Society and team charities.

As well, all players' helmets are outfitted with a pink ribbon decals, and fields have been painted with pink ribbon stencils.

The CFL says it chooses not to support one cause over another, but is considering doing something for the 2011 season.

"If we are going to allow our uniforms to be used to support any single cause, we need to ensure it is done the right way, backed by a comprehensive, league-wide public awareness and fundraising campaign, something that wasn't in place this season but that we're considering for next season," CFL commissioner Mark Cohon recently wrote on CFL.ca after the controversy surfaced with Adams's and Huntley's request being rejected.

"We also need to ensure that in embracing one cause through our uniform policy, we are being fair to the many others who turn to our league for support."