We know Tiger Woods isn’t exactly a family man, but if the superstar were somehow doping as well as being a dope, well, that’d be even more shocking.
As if the #1 golfer’s life weren’t spiraling out of control already, a doctor who treated Woods now finds himself accused of providing athletes with steroids.
The New York Times reports that Dr. Anthony Galea was recently found with human growth hormone and Actovegin, in his bag at the U.S.-Canada border.
Using, selling or importing Actovegin, a drug extracted from calf’s blood, is illegal in the United States. He was arrested in Toronto by Canadian police.
The FBI opened an investigation based in part on the medical records found on Galea’s computer relating to several professional, unnamed athletes.
Commenting on the investigation, Galea told the Times “it would be impossible” for investigators to have found material linking his athletes to PEDs.
Here’s where Tiger Woods fits in. Galea has developed a blood-spinning technique – platelet-rich plasma therapy – to help speed post-surgery recovery.
According to the newspaper, Dr. Anthony Galea visited Woods’ home in Florida at least four times in February and March to provide that 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 implicated, and won’t be, let’s please give the kid a break.”
“The New York Times is flat wrong, no one at IMG has ever met or recommended Dr. Galea, nor were we worried about the progress of Tiger’s recovery, as the N.Y. Times falsely reported. The treatment Tiger received is a widely accepted therapy.”
“To suggest some connection with illegality is recklessly irresponsible.”
The PGA Tour also released a statement regarding the story on Tuesday, saying, “We have read nothing with respect to the published reports regarding Tiger Woods and Dr. Galea that would suggest a violation of our anti doping policy.”
Woods announced Friday he is taking an indefinite leave from golf to work on his marriage after allegations of infidelity surfaced in recent weeks.
Galea, who admits he has used human growth hormone himself for 10 years, told the newspaper he never gave any athletes HGH (which is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency), nor has he mixed HGH or Actovegin with platelet treatments.
“All these athletes come see me in Canada ’cause I fix them, and I think because of that people just assume that I’m giving them stuff,” he said.
“They don’t have to come to me to get HGH and steroids. You can walk into your local gym right there in New York and get HGH.”
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said no charges have been filed.