20 May 2010

Canadian doctor charged with supplying illegal drugs

8:04 am on 20 May 2010

A Canadian doctor who has treated Tiger Woods and other elite athletes has been charged with supplying illegal drugs.

Dr Anthony Galea is accused of giving unlawful drugs, including human growth hormone (HGH), to at least three US professional football players.

The Toronto-based physician has denied any wrongdoing.

Woods said recently he had been treated by Galea, but categorically denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

Charges involved only unnamed NFL players, although Dr Galea is also known to have treated other sports figures, including world golf number one Tiger Woods and several prominent baseball players.

Woods said the only treatments he received in five meetings with Dr Galea were for blood spinning, where a person's own blood is placed in a centrifuge to separate the platelets from the red blood cells.

The platelets would then be injected into the injured area on the athlete.