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Canadian doctor indicted in US

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-10-16 13:47

BUFFALO, New York - Canadian doctor Anthony Galea was formally indicted on Thursday on charges of smuggling unapproved drugs into the United States to treat high-profile sports clients.

A federal grand jury in Buffalo returned a five-count indictment against Toronto-based Galea, who is accused of smuggling human growth hormone and other substances across the US-Canadian border, as well as conspiracy, fraud and lying to border agents.

Authorities say Galea, who is not licensed to practice medicine in the US, made frequent trips across the Peace Bridge in Buffalo to see athletes in several cities.

The indictment doesn't identify athletes by name, but Galea's high-profile clients have included golfer Tiger Woods, baseball star Alex Rodriguez and several NFL players.

Woods confirmed in July he had been interviewed by authorities investigating Galea. But the golfer said his treatment by Galea consisted of platelet-enriched plasma treatments for Woods' left knee.

The "blood spinning" treatment is designed to speed recovery from injuries.

Woods has denied taking any performance-enhancing drugs.

In June, Galea's former aide, Mary Anne Catalano, pleaded guilty in Buffalo to one count of lying to border agents.

She told the judge she'd had a "lapse of judgment" when she agreed to bring medical equipment and vials of drugs, including human growth hormone, into the US for Galea to use on athletes.

She told investigators Galea had instructed her to lie to border officers and say the supplies were for a conference, according to the plea agreement.

Catalano was originally to be sentenced this week, but her sentencing has been postponed.

According to court filings, some of Galea's athlete clients received intravenous vitamin drips, others had injections of the unapproved drug Actovegin and some would receive injections of human growth hormone, which is banned in sports as a performance enhancer.

Agence France-presse