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Is Tiger Woods getting a free pass on this Galea steroids indictment thing?

May 19, 2010, 6:00 PM EDT

36 Comments

So this is kind of confusing: Why are many people so willing to believe any woman who calls a press conference and claims to be Tiger Woods Mistress No. (pick a number); yet, when it comes to steroids, practically no one believes Tiger is juicing it. Hey, I’m not saying that I think Tiger is bulking up in Barry Bonds fashion. But recent developments have opened the floor for questions, haven’t they? Canadian Dr. Anthony Galea was indicted by the feds on Wednesday, accused of providing HGH to three NFL players (as yet unnamed). When questions of Galea’s ties to Woods first came up last year, the doctor was quick to dismiss PED accusations thusly:

According to a December 14 piece in the New York Times, Galea “said he did not use actovegin to treat [Tiger] Woods or other United States athletes.” Testimony in the affidavit from the anonymous NFL players runs contrary to those claims, but there is no indication that Woods received any treatment containing HGH or actovegin.


From the golf blog Waggle Room:

The filing states that Galea crossed over the border into the United States on at least 30 occasions between 2007 and September 2009. Galea told his associate that he was “flagged” in February 2009 and told by border agents that he could not bring medical supplies into the United States. When questioned by authorities at the border, Galea “told inspectors that he was a sports doctor giving a medical lecture in Florida and had medical equipment for the lecture he was giving in Florida.”

The NY Times notes that Galea claims he worked with Woods on at least four occasions in Woods’ Florida home in February and March of 2009. It remains unclear if the February 2009 incident described in the court filing pertains directly to Galea’s treatment of Woods or to another of his clients.

Tiger Woods has not yet clearly detailed the duration of his relationship with Galea, but has consistently denied the use of any performance-enhancing drugs. His former swing coach Hank Haney has also denied Woods’ use or association with PEDs.

Well, you know, Tiger Woods has denied a lot of things in recent months. He’s kind of used up his credibility in that regard. It is possible, however, that his treatments by Galea are purely innocent; swimmer Dana Torres, for instance, says that Galea drained fluid from her knee and helped diagnose a quad tear in 2009. All on the up-and-up. Other athletes also swear by him, and claim that no shenanigans are taking place. But consider this excerpt from a 2009 NY Times article:

Dr. Galea said he treated Mr. Woods in his home four or five times with a borrowed centrifuge from an Orlando doctor. Each time, he said he drew blood from Woods, spun it to increase the platelets’ count and then injected a small amount directly into Mr. Woods’s left knee.

Two days after the first treatment, Woods texted him, Dr. Galea said: “He said he couldn’t believe how good he feels. He’d joke and say, ‘I can jump up on the kitchen table,’ and I said, ‘Please don’t.’ “

No little HGH cocktail involved there, doc? In that same article, there’s this:

Dr. Galea said Mr. Woods was referred to him by the golfer’s agents at Cleveland-based International Management Group, who were alarmed at the slow pace of Mr. Woods’s rehabilitation after knee surgery in June 2008. The doctor said he flew to Orlando, Fla., at least four times to give Mr. Woods the platelet therapy at his home in Windermere, Fla., in February and March of this year. When asked for comment about Mr. Woods’s involvement with Dr. Galea, Mark Steinberg, of I.M.G., responded in an e-mail message: “I would really ask that you guys don’t write this? If Tiger is NOT implicated, and won’t be, let’s please give the kid a break.”

So we have the combination of a doctor indicted by the feds for providing steroids to professional athletes; that same doctor having treated Woods on numerous occasions and getting “miraculous” results; and Woods’ management group “alarmed at the slow pace” of his knee rehabilitation in 2008. Never, folks, underestimate the influence of a nervous management group. All of that may not be a downright Steroid Guilt Cocktail, but it certainly begs more questions, doesn’t it?
***
Anthony Galea, Doctor to Tiger Woods and A-Rod, Accused of Illegally Treating NFL Players, HGH Involved [CBS News]
Tiger Woods Doctor Accused of Giving NFL Players HGH [Bloomberg]
Sports Medicine Pioneer Subject of Doping Inquiry [The New York Times]
What the Galea Indictment May Tell Us About His Relationship with Tiger Woods [Waggle Room]

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  1. BK - May 19, 2010 at 11:34 PM

    C’mon Chandler. This is getting old. You have used every possible rumor to dis Tiger, and none of theme are worthy of a real journalist. TW did some disgusting things, but your nitpicking just makes it easier to forget them.
    Try to find something that will make you resemble a real journalist.

  2. Dave - May 20, 2010 at 12:05 AM

    Why do you say Tiger has yet to explain his relationship with the Doctor. He has stated exactly what the doctor did and said he was open to questions from the FBI. Why don’t you pay attention? You write whatever you want and don’t really care if it is true or not. Why don’t you join TMZ.

  3. Dave - May 20, 2010 at 12:07 AM

    Why do you say Tiger has yet to explain his relationship with the Doctor. He has stated exactly what the doctor did and said he was open to questions from the FBI. Why don’t you pay attention? You write whatever you want and don’t really care if it is true or not. Why don’t you join TMZ.

  4. Craig - May 20, 2010 at 12:56 AM

    It’s hilarious how commenters’ first inclination is to verbally assault the writers of these articles. There is absolutely every reason for this article to be written. The fact that Tiger supposedly denied the allegations is completely predictable. The author’s point is that there is a long list of reasons to not believe his denials, and that his involvement with Galea is well documented. That involvement should absolutely be questioned. I’ve been thinking the same thing myself for months. And yes, I was a huge Tiger fan. It is an honor and a joy to witness greatness, even though I’ve always thought he behaved like a jerk. Anymore I’ve simply decided I’m fine if he just becomes another “almost great” name in history. I’ll wait for someone else to come along and break records.

  5. lemonella - May 20, 2010 at 3:08 AM

    Out of bounds; give it a rest already. Unless you have some proof STFU.

  6. paul - May 20, 2010 at 4:19 AM

    a

  7. george - May 20, 2010 at 6:23 AM

    woods cheated on his wife and kids – why wouldn’t he cheat on golf by juicing – with this doctor – c’mon – where there’s smoke there’s fire!

  8. Confidentiality - May 20, 2010 at 7:57 AM

    This is an interesting puzzle to piece together but if you take yesterday’s story about Tiger wanting Elin to sign a lifetime confidentiality agreement it all starts to make sense.
    At this point does it really matter if another 150 women come out of the woodwork? No. If Elin writes a book and states Tiger cheated and lists how and why, that would be devastating to a career that isn’t exactly going in the right direction.
    It will be interesting to see how much Tiger is willing to pay to keep Elin’s mouth shut about all the things we don’t know about.
    How’s that for TMZ?

  9. wag - May 20, 2010 at 8:30 AM

    Eldrick is a liar – a collosal one at that. Without investigative journalism we would not have known that fact.
    You are truly a delusional idiot. Regardless of the outcome, Woods and Galea should be investigated till the facts – not their words set them free. Of course he is getting a free pass because people associated with the sport of golf make a lot more money with him than without him.
    Deep down you know where’s there’s smoke there’s fire. when you grow up you will figure out that eldrick is a sham.

  10. Paul - May 20, 2010 at 8:38 AM

    Money to shut Elin up? Proof he worked with a PED drug dealing doctor? Why do you think Barry Bonds hit 73 homers in a season when in 140 years of baseball history no one hit more than 61. A golf god? I don’t think so. A cheater always feels they can get over in all aspects of their life. Eldrick Woods Cheated In GOLF!
    Take all the titles away now. This is the most despicable of all cheats in a game where honor is the maxim. Lets blood tes tthese golfers too. They make millions of us the public, we want honesty at the minimum. That cheater should be banned for two years, just like the olympics. Hey, isn’y golf in the olympics now. I bet they can’t wait to get some of his blood. lol

  11. HILARIOUS - May 20, 2010 at 8:44 AM

    I bet you are one of those who think the US Government ran the planes into the World Trade Centers, he has taken more test for performance enhancing than anyone on the tour, if Phil’s name pops up I bet we won’t see a peep out of you!

  12. anna - May 20, 2010 at 8:48 AM

    Ditto

  13. Freethinker - May 20, 2010 at 9:11 AM

    Look at photos of Tiger at 18 and Tiger at 30. Bigger Stronger Faster. Normal workouts will not get a bodybuilder to the top.
    HGH, and other PED’s were certainly used. Sylvester Stallone, and many other famous people use all the tools they can get to stay famous.
    Really, it is a biological fact, that the body can only be built up so much. When one sees extraordinary development, it is natural to suspect Un-natural means have been used.
    This is Freedom of Speech. The writer is going to get abused everytime by someone who does not think Freedom is worthwhile.
    Regards,
    Freethinker

  14. 60eagles - May 20, 2010 at 9:15 AM

    I don’t know what the hell to believe. Bonds and his merry group of cheaters have destroyed the baseball record book. Did Woods destroy the golf record book as well? It makes you appreciate Jack Nicklaus and Roger Maris even more.

  15. Doocon - May 20, 2010 at 9:27 AM

    “Oh what a wicked web we weave when we pracrice to decieve”
    Should we be suprised if this whole alleged HGH use turns out to be true? I think not considering everything that has transpired since he crashed his Escalade with Elin in hot pursuit wielding a golf hopping to put a rather large divot in his head.

  16. Allen - Omaha - May 20, 2010 at 9:55 AM

    Doocon
    “Oh what a wicked web we weave when we pracrice to decieve”
    Should we be suprised if this whole alleged HGH use turns out to be true? I think not considering everything that has transpired since he crashed his Escalade with Elin in hot pursuit wielding a golf hopping to put a rather large divot in his head.
    ==========================
    The question is ‘will you give him credit if it turns out not to be true’?
    If by your initial quote all it takes is deception to qualify all aspects of our lives to be fake, I would submit to you then that all of us would fall in the same category.
    Doocon, once you’re done eating your own sh!t for dinner since it is obviously clear and taste like filet mignon, please come back down to earth and join the rest of the population.

  17. professor - May 20, 2010 at 10:12 AM

    sure, i’ll spend thousands more than i need to to get the same treatment locally and cheaply!i’ll bring in a doping specialist for a regular procedure. i’m so cheap i won’t give my ladies a penny but i’ll spend thousands more than i have to. and now that i can’t get treatment my body is breaking down! this guy is so dishonest,so woeful, to not believe he didn’t get illegal treatment is to believe that the sun rises in the west.

  18. And your point? - May 20, 2010 at 10:32 AM

    Look at me at 18 and 30! At 18, just out of high school where I wrestled and ran track, I weigh less than 130 pounds at 5’7″. Now at 30, I have bulked up considerably, though mainly from not as much activity. My entire body shape has changed and with some time in the gym I would have a drastically more bulked up muscle mass than I ever could have had at 18.
    Men change from a physiological standpoint in their twenties. It allows us to put on more mass. For most of us, honestly, that mass is in the form of a beer gut, but if we did the work and ate the protein instead of the fast food, we would be bigger and stronger as well. Faster is a guarantee without training, but bigger and stronger aren’t that hard.
    If your argument was look at the guy in his mid twenties and then look at him at 45, you might have something, but getting bigger and better as a professional athlete in a NONCONTACT LOW-IMPACT sport from 18-30 isn’t all that amazing.
    It’s not like he’s getting tackled everyday or throwing 200 pitches a week.

  19. RT Smith - May 20, 2010 at 10:41 AM

    Tiger Woods could win 50 Majors and still NOT be a great man. He is a Loser in Life, and a Quitter. PS Take a 5 iron from Tigers bag, Take a 5 iron from Nicklaus bag, and try hitting both. Back in Arnolds and Jack’s era you had to hit the Sweet spot. Now most of the face of the modern iron is all Sweet spot. If Nicklaus had a set of Callaway’s or Ping’s in his bag, wonder how man major’s he would have won???????

  20. mark black - May 20, 2010 at 11:53 AM

    RT, if you had the option to sleep with any woman, anytime, everwhere you went, would you resist the temptation? What he did was wrong, but I’m guessing you know people that have cheated on their spouses, prob your dad included, and I bet you don’t get as angry as you are now. WHY IS THAT???? And your “back in Arnolds era” crap shows how stupid you are. Phil plays in the same era as Tiger, but I have a feeling you didnt postthose comparisions on Phil’s board after he won the Masters. WHY IS THAT???

  21. Allen - Omaha - May 20, 2010 at 11:55 AM

    RT Smith
    Tiger Woods could win 50 Majors and still NOT be a great man. He is a Loser in Life, and a Quitter. PS Take a 5 iron from Tigers bag, Take a 5 iron from Nicklaus bag, and try hitting both. Back in Arnolds and Jack’s era you had to hit the Sweet spot. Now most of the face of the modern iron is all Sweet spot. If Nicklaus had a set of Callaway’s or Ping’s in his bag, wonder how man major’s he would have won???????
    ===============
    Believe me, Jack was a pimp on the course and had a 15th club in his bag called ‘will’, but your comparisons are way off base. Tiger doesn’t exactly play with game-improvement irons and nor did Jack/Arnie and others play with broom handles, duck tape and an iron head on the end of them…both played with the best of the technology of the day as did their Tour peers.
    For his time on the Tour, Tiger’s will to win has played no less of an active role in his gofling accomplishments just as Jack’s did. It’s this element that sets these two individuals above others in their respective eras.
    Jack nor Tiger have ever lost because they played with lesser equipment nor did the win because they had better equipment.

  22. Cthrough - May 20, 2010 at 12:01 PM

    Everyone has the right to get treatment from anyone. The question is if the athletes used steroids which is a violation of the rule. No one proved anything yet. If the athletes went to Canada and got the treatment, where Dr.Galea is licensed to practice nothing anybody can do. Where is the question of Tiger getting a free pass? Rick Chandler wake up! I am sure you have better things to do to show your journalistic skills.
    Tiger made some personal mistakes. That’s about it. If anyone does not want to forget it, though it is not their business, so be it. Tiger is Tiger. All those who try to crucify him can’t even dream about achieving what he achieved.
    I am beginning to think that probably Tiger was “entitled” to have the fun he had.

  23. Doocon - May 20, 2010 at 12:03 PM

    Alleged Allen, alleged. If all this turns out false absolutely I would give him credit.
    In no way am I saying I am above it all. I am just as flawed as the next guy. “He without sin cast the first stone” You won’t see a rock in my hand—ever!
    As far as the s–t sandwich I’ll pass. Let me join you and the masses for filet migon. I bring a bottle of Cabernet Savigon to cleanse our pallet before we eat.
    Bon Appetit’

  24. Paul - May 20, 2010 at 12:22 PM

    Santana moss just suspended for PED use from Galea. Oops, Woods got treated by the same Doc just days later. Hmmm. I’m sure woods let him inject sugar water instead of the PED’s. Galea goes on a country wide injecting spree of HGH but shoots Woods with Sugar water. Come on folks, its reality. Ban the cheater for 2 years ASAP. Send the message to everyone , we won’t tolerate it anymore.
    Oh, Btw see 1991 federal law regarding illegal use of PED’s. Its a federal crime. It it was you, you can bet you’d be in jail. Money buys freedom from all crimes. Oops sorry plax, bloomy got ya good.

  25. Allen - Omaha - May 20, 2010 at 1:41 PM

    Paul
    Santana moss just suspended for PED use from Galea. Oops, Woods got treated by the same Doc just days later. Hmmm. I’m sure woods let him inject sugar water instead of the PED’s. Galea goes on a country wide injecting spree of HGH but shoots Woods with Sugar water. Come on folks, its reality. Ban the cheater for 2 years ASAP. Send the message to everyone , we won’t tolerate it anymore.
    Oh, Btw see 1991 federal law regarding illegal use of PED’s. Its a federal crime. It it was you, you can bet you’d be in jail. Money buys freedom from all crimes. Oops sorry plax, bloomy got ya good.
    ==========================
    Why do you people continue to talk as though some form of evidence has been discovered? Golfer’s are tested physically and their equipment is tested. When was Woods’ last test and did he fail it?
    Even from Galea’s perspective..is the statement that if he’s injected PED for one individual that’s the only he thing he does as it relates to sports medicine?
    If at this point right now, all we have is this association, I’m no lawyer, but I’m not thinking Woods will be walking out of the courtroom in handcuffs. You gotta bring more to the table than this.

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