BUFFALO, New York (AFP) ? Canadian sports doctor Anthony Galea pled guilty Wednesday to bringing unapproved drugs into the United States to treat American professional athletes.
Galea, whose clients have included Alex Rodriguez and Tiger Woods, admitted in a Buffalo federal courtroom that he unlawfully treated US athletes.
Most of the charges were dismissed with Galea's plea. Prosecutors said his clients included golfers, professional baseball and football players and others.
The 51-year-old Galea pleaded guilty in front of judge Richard Arcara, eliminating the need for a trial. It also ended the likelihood that evidence could publicly identify who was on his patient list.
The indictment didn't identify which clients he treated and both Woods and Rodriguez deny receiving any performance-enhancing drugs from Galea.
The judge asked Wednesday about athletes linked to Galea. Prosecutors said all their names would have come out at trial but they included National Football League linebacker Takeo Spikes and retired running back Jamal Lewis, who were seen by Galea but weren't accused of using any performance-enhancing substances.
Woods, a 14-time major golf champion, and several Major League Baseball and National Football League players have confirmed they were treated by Galea, who is not authorized to practise in the United States.
Galea was accused of smuggling human growth hormones and other substances over the Canadian-US border, lying to guards in order to avoid discovery and treating athletes at homes and hotels for a two-year span ending in September of 2009.
Woods admitted being treated by Galea when his injured left knee was not healing as fast as he wished after a 2008 injury, but said he only used Galea's "blood spinning" technique to create platelet-rich plasma, which is reinjected into an injured area to enhance and speed healing.
The New York Mets' Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran also have acknowledged talking to investigators during the probe.
The Galea probe began when his assistant, Mary Anne Catalano, was arrested in September of 2009 as she tried to enter the United States from Canada at Buffalo.
Galea was released until sentencing which is scheduled for October 19. He could receive up to two years in prison.
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