Toronto sports doctor pleads guilty to U.S. drug-smuggling charges

A Canadian sports doctor, whose clients have included Tiger Woods and Alex Rodriguez, has admitted in a New York courtroom he brought unapproved drugs into the United States to treat professional athletes.

Dr. Anthony Galea, 51, pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court in Buffalo, N.Y.

Galea, a former doctor for the Toronto Argonauts, was indicted last October for allegedly smuggling unapproved drugs and lying to border agents. He’s accused of using the substances to treat 20 professional athletes at their homes and friends’ houses between October 2007 and September 2009.

None of the athletes has been named.

Authorities allege Galea gave some clients HGH and Actovegin injections. Actovegin is a derivative of calf’s blood that isn’t approved for use in the U.S. He’s also alleged to have provided platelet-rich plasma therapy — a treatment used to speed healing. The patient’s blood is extracted and just the plasma is re-injected.

Both Woods and Rodriquez said they had been treated by Galea, but they didn’t receive illegal drugs or treatments.

The doctor faces similar charges in Canada.

With files from The Canadian Press

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