Toronto’s controversial doctor to the stars dragged down by the dope game (though not that kind of dope)

After months of investigation, American authorities are finally charging Toronto’s eerily-young-looking doctor-to-the-sports-stars, Anthony Galea, with “knowingly importing merchandise contrary to law,” willingly making false statements, attempting to “introduce and deliver” a new unapproved drug, actovegin—filtered from calf’s blood—and possessing with intent to distribute human growth hormone. We’re getting this from the Sun, so we’ve had to translate it from Sun-ese. The original:

While Dr. Anthony Galea has rich and famous athletes across the continent searching out the “miracle” doctor, it may now be him searching for a miracle to get out of the legal mess he’s in with the American justice system.

Oh, snap.

If television has taught us anything, it’s that drug smuggling requires help, and good help is hard to find. The New York Times alleges that it was Galea’s assistant, Mary Anne Catalano, who was caught at the American border with the illicit drugs and the equipment to administer them (apparently, she was en route to treat a Washington Redskin). Once caught, Catalano has flipped, as they say in TV land, and is now a witness co-operating with the American authorities in exchange for a reduced sentence.

Galea’s lawyer—who, surprise surprise, is Brian Greenspan—maintains that he’s innocent, but the good doctor could face up to 20 years in the clink if convicted by the Americans of smuggling, though that’s assuming any prison can hold him. He likely has enough human growth hormone kicking around his Etobicoke office to turn him into Ironman.

• Miracle Doc faces U.S. justice system [Toronto Sun]
• Doctor accused of doping has ties to N.F.L. [New York Times]
• Toronto MD charged with giving HGH to NFLer [CBC]