FBI Investigating T.O. Doc For Allegedly Providing Performance-Enhancing Drugs
Posted December 15, 2009 8:27 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The FBI is investigating a Canadian doctor linked to some world-class athletes, including Tiger Woods, Donovan Bailey and NFL players, following his arrest in Canada for allegedly smuggling and selling unapproved performance-enhancing drugs.
Sports medicine specialist Dr. Anthony Galea, who runs the ISM Health and Wellness Centre, is scheduled to appear in a Toronto court Friday. He was arrested after the RCMP raided his Toronto office on Oct. 15.
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations started looking into Galea’s activities after authorities seized a laptop and a bag allegedly containing human growth hormone (HGH) and other drugs, including Actovegin, from the doctor’s assistant at the border crossing after being refused entry into the U.S. from Canada.
The FBI is basing its investigation, in part, on the computer, which allegedly contained medical records of several professional athletes, who haven’t been identified.
None of the allegations against Galea have been proven in Canadian or American courts.
HGH is approved for use in Canada, but in the United States it can only be used in very specific instances. Galea has reportedly been prescribing HGH to some of his patients 40 and over to help improve stamina. He insists he never provided it to pro athletes. The World Anti-Doping Association classifies HGH as a banned substance.
Actovegin, which is essentially strained and purified calf’s blood, is not approved for use in Canada or the United States and is imported from Austria. While it’s not a banned substance, the World Anti-Doping Agency is closely monitoring its use, the New York Times reports. It’s reportedly popular among professional European cyclists and some believe it speeds up the recovery time from certain injuries, including muscle and tendon tears.
Galea used Actovegin to treat members of the Toronto Argonauts, but claims he never used it on American athletes. The doctor insists his treatments are legal and don’t violate anti-doping regulations in sport.
