Tiger Woods’s Toronto doctor wanted by A-list athletes, FBI
What does it say about sports in this city when one of our biggest names doesn’t even play on a professional team? Or play at all? For doctor Anthony Galea, it’s the contents of his little black bag and his little black book that are winning him major media—and police—playtime. According to the Globe, the physician is currently facing four charges in Canada related to smuggling and distributing banned substances: human growth hormone (HGH) and Actovegin, a derivative of calf’s blood that can be used as a performance enhancer. South of the border, the FBI wants to know whether he has given HGH to professional athletes. We’re not talking about just any pros; Galea’s superstar patient list includes Tiger Woods, Alex Rodriguez, Donovan Bailey, Tie Domi and Patrick Chan.
Galea has admitted to injecting himself and non-athletes with HGH, but no one else. So far, nothing has been proven, and his patients are defending the doctor’s “alternative methods.” The Globe quotes Bailey demanding, “Is this a witch hunt?”
It’s hard to say. Actovegin shares few characteristics with eye of newt, but these A-list patients don’t seem to believe it’s snake oil, either.
