Anthony Galea, a Toronto sports doctor who works for the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts, plead guilty to smuggling human growth hormone and other illegal drugs into the United States on Wednesday.
Anthony Galea Accepts Plea Deal In HGH Case; Doctor Treated High Profile Athletes
Galea, best known for his brief treatment of Tiger Woods — who Galea claims did not receive HGH — could face up to two years in federal prison. His conviction may also lead to scrutiny of the many athletes he reportedly treated in recent years.
Galea's highest profile confirmed clients beyond Woods include New York Mets star Jose Reyes, and Olympic medalists Donovan Bailey and Dara Torres. Reyes was treated by Galea while recovering from a leg injury in 2008. Bailey won gold in the 100 meters and 4 x 100 meters relay in the 1996 Olympics, and Torres has won 12 medals, four gold, in an Olympic career that spanned from the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Other athletes Galea has treated include NFL players Santana Moss, Javon Walker, and Chris Simms, and MLB pitcher Huston Street and John Patterson.
But there have been whispers about more and more prominent Galea clients. The New York Times reported in 2010 that a Galea assistant told federal authorities that Galea had injected Alex Rodriguez with drugs at one point, an assertion Galea denies. The Times also reported that part of Rodriguez’ recovery from a 2009 hip surgery was overseen by a Galea associate, Dr. Mark Lindsay.
And ESPN reported in 2010 that Galea spent much of the summer of 2009 flying across America and treating athletes, making stops in New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Cleveland, San Francisco, and Orlando.
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