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RCMP raided doctor's Toronto sports clinic 5 · Thursday, December 17, 2009 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Continued from page 1 are not approved by Health Canada to be used in Canada, were administered to patients. Galea is also alleged to have conspired to export these drugs to the US. On Oct. 15, the RCMP searched Galea's the Institute of Sports Medicine (ISM) Health and Wellness Center in Toronto and seized unapproved drugs, believed to be Actovegin, from his office. The RCMP has had assistance from Health Canada due to its expertise in the scientific assessments of drugs and the regulatory regime governing drugs in Canada. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the lead US agency in the investigation. Galea's lawyer, Brian Greenspan dismissed all allegations against his client yesterday, calling Galea a "pioneer in the area of sports medicine" who is "looking forward for this chapter to be over." Actovegin, which contains extracts of calf's blood, is not approved for sale in Canada or the US, is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency if used intravenously and has become the subject of growing controversy in sporting circles. "(Actovegin) is understood to be used by athletes primarily to hasten recovery from injury and is claimed to increase endurance," said Dr. Christina Tsitsimpikou, a researcher with the Greek Department of Drugs and Narcotics who conducted studies on Actovegin's use during the 2004 Athens Olympic and Paralympic Games. The drug is only approved in Canada for treating arthritis in dogs and other animals. Kathryn Clarke, a spokeswoman for the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons, says doctors are discouraged from prescribing unapproved drugs like Actovegin and Cartrophen Vet to patients. But the practice isn't forbidden as long as they obtain patient consent. The World Anti-Doping Agency, in addition to prohibiting Actovegin use intravenously, closely monitors the drug "since we are aware of its use in some sports, possibly in conjunction with other substances that may be prohibited," said Frederic Donze, an agency spokesman. In a 2007 Oakville Beaver story, Doctor to star athletes, Galea said he treated Bailey for a ruptured Achilles tendon in the off-season of 1998. "Normally, with that kind of injury, you'd put him in a cast for at least two months," Galea told The Beaver in 2007. "We didn't cast him. We put him in a special splint. We designed a special running shoe, we had him in the water right away, we had him in the hyperbaric chamber." From the day the surgical stitches were removed, Bailey was in rehab. The Olympic champion was jogging just 10 weeks after the surgery. Little more than a year after the surgery, Bailey shocked the world of track-andfield, turning in the second-fastest time of 2000 at 9.98 seconds. "He would have run if he had gone through conventional rehab," Galea told The Beaver, in 2007, "but not a sub-10." In 2007, Galea told The Beaver his client roster includes Canadian gymnasts, a long list of football players and several members of the National Hockey League, including Jason Spezza and Rick Nash. "I like when my guys win, not because I feel like I fixed them, it's more that I can allow them to do what they do naturally," Galea said. "I allow them to get back to that level where they excel. That's my job," he told The Beaver in 2007. -- With files from the Toronto Star Sale!Sale!Sale! Finest Espresso Machines from Saeco and Gaggia NOW OPEN Espresso · Cappuccino Latte · Macchiato service centre Finest Espresso Beans 125 LAKESHORE RD. W. email: lastrada@cogeco.ca la strada In Business Since 1993 ( AT KERR ST.) 905.257.1260 Gourmet Food To Go! At Mise en Place, we strive to give you a variety of choices. These options now include wonderful CHEESE! Chèvre Noir · Bleu Bénédictin · Dubliner · Asiago · Le Trappeur Brie · Blackburn · Grana Padano · Double Gloucester · Manchego · Oka & more! n Time for the Holidays! Just I DRY-AGED BEEF Eating it is as sensual and satisfying as drinking well-aged wine! We have a piece that is just for you. For your eating pleasure, we offer fresh select Angus striploin, AAA striploin, rib eye, rib steaks, and T-bone. In addition, we have fresh-frozen lamb, venison, bison and kangaroo. 1011 Upper Middle Rd., Oakville Upper Oakville Shopping Centre www.miseenplaceboutique.com 905.844.5707