By Teri Thompson, Michael O'Keeffe, Christian Red and Nathaniel Vinton
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITERS
Originally Published:Wednesday, December 16th 2009, 1:38 PM
Updated: Wednesday, December 16th 2009, 5:56 PM
When MaryAnne Catalano was stopped at the U.S.-Canadian border this fall with a bag of drugs and medical supplies belonging to Dr. Tony Galea in her possession, she told federal border agents that her boss, who had treated Tiger Woods and other pro athletes, had no medical licenses in the United States.That could deepen the legal troubles for Galea, who was officially charged with four drug offenses Wednesday by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Galea was charged with selling the unapproved drug Actovegin, derived from calf's blood, conspiracy to import an unapproved drug, conspiracy to export a drug, and smuggling goods into Canada. According to the Canadian police, "The R.C.M.P. is alleging that it was Galea's intent to treat some of his patients outside Canada with Actovegin." Actovegin is illegal in the U.S. and Canada.
Galea has publicly admitted to treating Woods to "blood-spinning" treatments at Woods' home in Florida. Practicing medicine without a license is a crime in Florida, where an online database of healthcare providers kept by the state's Department of Health shows no record of Galea having been licensed to practice medicine now or in the past. The American Medical Association said it has no record of Galea being a member of that group. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, his membership in that group, which does not require a U.S. medical license, has expired.
According to Susan Smith of the Florida Department of Health, authorities are looking into whether Galea practiced without a license. "We don't know the details of this event," Smith said. "We have referred it to our Unlicensed Activity investigators for review."
After her arrest at the Peace Bridge point of entry near Buffalo, Catalano waived her right to remain silent and told law enforcement officers that day that Galea had told her to bring the drugs and other items into the U.S. because "he had been flagged." According to the affidavit filed by special agent Justin Burnham of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Catalano told authorities that "her employer holds no medical licenses in the United States and that she knew that administering these medications while in the United States was illegal."
Galea's attorney, Brian Greenspan, said he will appear on his client's behalf at a court hearing in Toronto Friday, and expects to receive further documentation of evidence the Canadian authorities gathered in an October search of Galea's clinic. Catalano, Galea's assistant, was carrying 20 vials and 76 ampoules of various drugs - along with 111 syringes - in her Nissan Rogue, including Nutropin-brand human growth hormone when she was arrested on Sept. 14, according to court documents.
"She no longer works there and it's before the courts," Catalano's attorney, Calvin Barry, told the Daily News Wednesday. "She's cooperating fully with authorities on both sides of the border…My understanding is at most she'll be a witness."
Barry said that his client had not spoken to Galea since her arrest.
Wednesday's news release from the RCMP referred to an associate of Galea's saying the person was "apprehended leaving Canada (for the United States) with the unapproved drug known as Actovegin," an extract that has raised alarms in anti-doping circles since at least 2000, when it appeared on the Tour de France.
After her arrest at the Peace Bridge point of entry near Buffalo, Catalano waived her right to remain silent. According to the affidavit, Catalano told customs agents that Galea "had problems attempting to import these same items into the United States on previous occasions and that he had advised her that he was flagged at the border. As a result, Catalano stated that her employer asked her to bring these items into the United States." The affidavit also says that Catalano stated that she was told by her employer that if she was questioned about the purpose of her trip, she should say that they were coming to the United States for a conference with other medical professionals and that none of the equipment she was bringing into the United States was for treating patients."
ESPN.com first reported Wednesday details of Catalano's border arrest.
Galea has treated several well-known athletes, including Woods, the Mets' Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado and several Olympic stars and NFL players. He is known as the "miracle man" in Toronto circles. His colleague, chiropractor Mark Lindsay, who also worked with several of Victor Conte's BALCO clients before and after the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, worked with Yankee superstar Alex Rodriguez as he rehabbed from hip surgery this summer. Lindsay also worked with Woods following his June 2008 surgery to repair his anterior cruciate ligament.
Greenspan said his client had done nothing illegal and has encouraged Catalano to be forthcoming with law enforcement officials. Galea is also under investigation by the FBI, an investigation that is being handled by the Buffalo field office. A representative of that office declined to comment on the matter.
Greenspan told reporters Tuesday that the HGH found in Catalano's possession was for Galea's personal use. Galea has said that he never provided Woods with human growth hormone.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2009/12/16/2009-12-16_tiger_woods_doctor_tony_galea.html?page=1
