Sports medicine specialist Dr. Anthony Galea, who has treated such superstar patients as Tiger Woods and Alex Rodriguez, has admitted to smuggling drugs across the U.S. border, with the purpose of treating professional athletes.
The admission was confirmed by Galea’s attorney, Brian Greenspan. “In Buffalo, [Galea] pleaded guilty to bringing into the United States two substances which were mislabelled,” he said.
According to a press release issued by the United States Department of Justice, the drugs included a human growth hormone and Actovegin, which is a derivative of calf’s blood. The drug is not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.
“Here, the defendant admitted to not only bringing unapproved substances into the country repeatedly, but that he also practiced medicine without a licence, supervised criminal conduct of others and obstructed justice,” said Judge William J. Hochul Jr., in a prepared statement from the release.
The release indicates that Galea faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison and more than half a million dollars in fines and forfeiture. Until his sentencing, scheduled for Oct. 19, the justice department confirmed that Galea has been released and permitted to return home to Toronto.