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Report: Anthony Galea, doctor who treated Tiger Woods, is suspected of providing performance-enhancing drugs to athletes

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The New York Times reported on its website that Dr. Anthony Galea, a Canadian doctor who has treated Tiger Woods, is suspected of providing athletes with performance-enhancing drugs. Galea was found with human growth hormone and Actovegin, a drug extracted from calves’ blood, in his bag at the U.S.-Canada border in late September. He was arrested Oct. 15 in Toronto by Canadian police.

Using, selling or importing Actovegin is illegal in the United States.

The FBI has opened an investigation based in part on medical records found on Galea’s computer relating to several pro athletes, sources told the New York Times on condition of anonymity because they did not want to be identified discussing a continuing investigation.

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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.

According to the newspaper, Galea uses platelet-rich-plasma therapy to help speed post-surgery recovery. Galea visited Woods at least four times in February and March, the newspaper reported, to provide platelet therapy after Woods’ agents were concerned by his slow recovery from June 2008 knee surgery.

Asked about Woods’ involvement with Galea, agent Mark Steinberg told the newspaper in an e-mail: ‘I would really ask that you guys don’t write this? If Tiger is NOT implicate, and won’t be, let’s please give the kid a break.’

Galea told the newspaper he never gave any athletes human growth hormone.

-- Houston Mitchell

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