This Dec. 16, 1999, photo shows Dr. Anthony Galea treating a patient with shock wave therapy at the Institute of Sports Medicine in Toronto.
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EmailThe Canadian doctor with ties to Tiger Woods and other athletes has been charged in the U.S. with unlawfully treating professional football players with unapproved drugs, including human growth hormone.
Woods has acknowledged being treated by Dr. Anthony Galea of Toronto with platelet-rich plasma therapy, a legal treatment also known as “blood spinning,’’ but repeatedly has denied ever having used performance-enhancing drugs. Woods said Galea performed blood-spinning treatments for his knee and Achilles’ tendon.
Woods is not named in the federal criminal complaint filed against Galea on Tuesday in Buffalo, N.Y.
Mark Steinberg, Woods’ agent, responded by e-mail that Woods has not been contacted by federal investigators, Canadian or U.S., since Steinberg was contacted earlier this year by investigators.
“They actually contacted Steiny,’’ Woods said in his Masters pre-tournament news conference. “And full cooperation, whenever they need me. But as of right now, they have not asked for my time.’’
Woods, who cited a neck injury in withdrawing earlier this month from The Players Championship, is out indefinitely. He had returned to the PGA Tour at the Masters after a Nov. 27 car crash near his Windermere, Fla., home led to admissions of marital infidelity and a five-month hiatus from competition.
The complaint charges Galea with lying to federal officials, smuggling, unlawful distribution of HGH, introducing the unapproved drug Actovegin into interstate commerce and conspiracy to defraud the United States.
According to court documents reviewed by The Associated Press, Galea’s clients include at least three National Football League players. One allegedly had two HGH kits delivered to his home while another received Actovegin injections.
Galea also treated Major League Baseball players and pro golfers, but the charges pertain to the NFL players. No athletes were named.
Galea, who is not licensed to practice medicine in the U.S., also is facing four drug-related charges in Canada.
Galea’s lawyer was in court and not immediately available to comment.
- Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
