RCMP charge doctor tied to doping case
WASHINGTON (AP) — A doctor who has treated golfer Tiger Woods and many other pro athletes was charged by Canadian authorities on Wednesday with selling an unapproved drug known as Actovegin.
Dr. Anthony Galea, 51, also was charged with conspiracy to import an unapproved drug, conspiracy to export a drug and smuggling goods into Canada by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Galea was arrested Oct. 15 in Toronto.
A person familiar with the investigation said it was carried out by with help from the FBI. The person was not authorized to discuss the case and therefore spoke on condition of anonymity.
Galea’s lawyer denied any wrongdoing at a news conference in Toronto on Tuesday.
“He looks forward to being vindicated,” attorney Brian H. Greenspan said. “He’s a physician who has always engaged in lawful practices. He’s never been involved in any improprieties, any misconduct, any unlawful conduct.”
RCMP spokesman Sgt. Marc LaPorte said Galea was arrested in October after a search warrant was executed at the Institute of Sports Medicine Health and Wellness Centre near Toronto.
Greenspan said the investigation began when the doctor’s assistant, who often drove around Galea, was stopped at the Canada-U.S. border. Human growth hormone and Actovegin, a drug extracted from calf’s blood, were found in Galea’s bag in the car, The New York Times reported.
Using, selling or importing Actovegin is illegal in the United States.
Greenspan confirmed Galea has used HGH himself and prescribed it to non-athlete patients over the age of 40 to improve their quality of life, but said he has never given it to athletes.
“It’s a therapeutic substance that extends life, and in his view the literature supports the prudent use of HGH in older people that enhances their general health,” Greenspan said.
The FBI has opened an investigation based in part on medical records found on Galea’s computer relating to several professional athletes, people briefed on the inquiry told the Times on condition of anonymity because they did not want to be identified discussing a continuing investigation.
The anonymous sources did not disclose the names of the athletes, and Galea told the newspaper “it would be impossible” for investigators to have found material linking his athletes to performance-enhancing drugs.