Anabolic Steroids: An Olympic-sized Impression
http://mrjamesryan.com/2009/12/07/anabolic-ster…

Please pay special attention the final quote.

NEW YORK — A Canadian doctor who has treated sprinter Donovan Bailey, figure skater Patrick Chan, golfer Tiger Woods and NFL players is suspected of providing athletes with performance-enhancing drugs, according to a newspaper report.

The New York Times reported on its website Monday night that Dr. Anthony Galea was found with human growth hormone and Actovegin, a drug extracted from calf's 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.

Galea is also being investigated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for smuggling, advertising and selling unapproved drugs as well as criminal conspiracy. He is tentatively scheduled to make a court appearance in Canada on Friday.

In a Globe and Mail report published Oct. 29, RCMP confirmed they raided Galea's Toronto-area offices on Oct. 15 but would not comment citing a continuing investigation.

None of the accusations against Galea have been proven in a Canadian or American court of law, and his lawyer says he is not guilty of any criminal activity or impropriety.

The FBI has opened an investigation based in part on medical records found on Galea's computer relating to several professional athletes, people briefed on the inquiry told the Times on condition of anonymity because they did not want to be identified discussing a continuing investigation.

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 has developed a blood-spinning technique — platelet-rich plasma therapy — to help speed post-surgery recovery.

Galea visited Woods' home in Florida at least four times in February and March, the newspaper reported, to provide that platelet therapy after his 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 email: “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.”

Woods announced Friday he is taking an indefinite leave from golf to work on his marriage after allegations of infidelity surfaced in recent weeks.

A message was left by The Associated Press late Monday night seeking comment from Steinberg.

U.S. swimmer Dara Torres told the newspaper Galea found a previously undiagnosed tear in her quad tendon.

“Excluding draining my knee, he has never treated me, but I did see his chiropractor who did soft-tissue work on my leg,” she said in an email to the Times. “That was the extent of my visit with him.”

Her agent, Evan Morgenstein, told the AP that Torres was not available for comment Monday night.

Brian H. Greenspan, Galea's criminal defence lawyer, said an investigation will vindicate his client.

“Dr. Galea was never engaged in any wrongdoing or any impropriety,” Greenspan said. “Not only does he have a reputation that is impeccable, he is a person at the every top of his profession.”

Galea, who acknowledged 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. And Galea told the Times he has never combined HGH or Actovegin with his platelet treatments.

“All these athletes come see me in Canada cause I fix them, and I think people just assume that I'm giving them stuff,” he told the newspaper. “They don't have to come to me to get HGH and steroids. You can walk into your local gym in New York and get HGH.”

FBI probes Canada sports doctor over doping

NEW YORK (AFP) – A Canadian doctor, who helped treat Tiger Woods during his eighth-month rehab from surgery, is the subject of US and Canadian probes for selling unapproved drugs, The New York Times reported.
ADVERTISEMENT

Anthony Galea is suspected of providing prominent American and Canadian athletes with performance-enhancing drugs, according to the Times.

Police arrested the 50-year-old Galea in Toronto on October 15 just a month after he was stopped on another occasion at the US-Canada border with human growth hormone and Actovegin in his suitcase.

Besides Woods, Galea has treated hundreds of professional and amateur athletes over the years including Olympic swimmer Dara Torres, Olympic runner Donovan Bailey and NFL quarterback Chris Simms.

He is also the former team doctor for the Toronto Argonauts, the Times said.

It is illegal to import or sell Actovegin in the United States. Actovegin is a drug extracted from calf's blood.

The newspaper says the FBI investigation of Galea is based on medical records discovered on his computer.

The sources did not reveal the names of the athletes Galea allegedly supplied with the drugs.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have launched a separate probe which is looking into smuggling, criminal conspiracy and the selling of unapproved drugs.

Galea has denied providing athletes with performance-enhancing drugs.

Woods, who announced on Friday he was taking an indefinite leave of absence from golf, saw Galea four times at his home in Florida in February and March.

Woods' team called in the doctor because they were concerned about the speed of his recovery from knee surgery in June 2008.

When contacted by the Times, Woods' agent Mark Steinberg asked the paper not to write the story, “I would really ask that you guys don't write this?” he said in an email. “If Tiger is not implicated, and won't be, let's please give the kid a break.”

The world's No. 1 golfer announced his leave from the sport following allegations of infidelity which have surfaced in recent weeks.

Galea is known in the sports world as a pioneer in helping athletes recover from serious injuries. The Times says he has developed a blood-spinning technique (platelet-rich plasma therapy) to help speed post-surgery rehabilitation.

Torres said he treated her for a simple tear in her quad tendon but nothing more.

“Excluding draining my knee, he has never treated me, but I did see his chiropractor who did soft-tissue work on my leg,” she said in an e-mail to the Times. “That was the extent of my visit with him.”

Lawyer Brian Greenspan insisted his client will be vindicated.

“Dr Galea was never engaged in any wrongdoing or any impropriety,” Greenspan said. “Not only does he have a reputation that is impeccable, he is a person at the very top of his profession.”

The rest is in order as follows:
• Carson Palmer, Cin $16.166M
• Eli Manning, NYG $15.285M
• Nnamdi Asomugha, Oak $15.155
• Ben Roethlisberger, Pit $14.664M
• Peyton Manning, Ind. $14M
Note that because of salary cap manipulations, an individual's salary in a particular year may be much higher or lower. For example, Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was paid over $27 million in 2008.

PLEASE NOTE: I am in no way suggesting that any of these athletes use steroids. This is merely to demonstrate that in the eyes of the athletes, there is much to be gained financially. The reward would certainly seem to outweigh the risk. JR