Agent: Tiger treatment was standard

By Matt McGeehan, Press Association Sport Last updated: 16th December 2009

Tiger Woods' agent has categorically denied there was "illegality" involved in the world number one golfer's treatment by Dr Anthony Galea, who was on Wednesday charged with selling an unapproved drug.

Woods has endured a trying time of late, admitting to infidelity and taking an indefinite break from golf.

Amid the fallout of his "transgressions", the latest reports have come at an unwelcome time for the embattled 14-time major winner.

Galea, an Ontario-based sports doctor who has worked with athletes in Olympic sports, the NHL, NFL and MLB, earlier this year treated Woods in his recovery from a knee injury but is now the subject of a joint Canada and United States investigation and will appear in a Toronto court on Friday.

The New York Times reported Woods' International Management Group were unhappy with the slow pace of recovery - a claim strenuously denied - as he underwent platelet-rich plasma therapy to accelerate the process.

A statement from agent Mark Steinberg read: "The New York Times is flat wrong, no-one at IMG has ever met or recommended Dr Galea, nor were we worried about the progress of Tiger's recovery, as the [New York] Times falsely reported.

"The treatment Tiger received is a widely accepted therapy and to suggest some connection with illegality is recklessly irresponsible."

Galea will appear in court on Friday on four charges: selling an unapproved drug (Actovegin); conspiracy to import an unapproved drug; conspiracy to export a drug; and smuggling goods into Canada.

Galea was first investigated by the Royal Canadian Mountain Police in September after one of his associates was apprehended with the unapproved drug Actovegin, an extract of calf blood which activates metabolism (growth) in body tissue.

Galea's Institute of Sports Medicine Health and Wellness Center in Toronto was searched on October 15, resulting in unapproved drugs being seized and the doctor's arrest.

A statement issued by the RCMP read: "The RCMP is alleging that it was Galea's intent to treat some of his patients outside Canada with Actovegin.

"Actovegin has not been approved for use in Canada, although it is available and approved in some European countries.

"The RCMP investigators are alleging that Dr Galea illegally imported and smuggled drugs into Canada.

"They are further alleging that these drugs, which are not approved by Health Canada to be used in Canada, were administered to patients.

"Dr Galea is also alleged to have conspired to export these drugs to the US."

Matt McGeehan, Press Association Sport