Elite sports doc guilty of misconduct

A renowned Canadian sports doctor who helped big-name athletes come back from injuries has been found guilty of professional misconduct.

The decision against Dr. Anthony Galea whose client list included golfer Tiger Woods and other stars stems from his conviction in the United States for importing unapproved and mislabelled drugs, Ontario’s medical regulatory body said in its decision.

“He has been found guilty of an offence relevant to his suitability to practise, and he engaged in an act or omission relevant to the practise of medicine that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable, or unprofessional,” the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario said.

A penalty hearing has yet to be held and he is currently able to practise without restrictions, according to the college.

Galea was not commenting Friday, referring questions to his lawyer, who was not immediately available.

The physician, who was not licensed to practise medicine in the U.S., nevertheless treated numerous elite athletes there, including football, basketball and baseball players between 2007 and 2009. He was usually assisted by Mary Anne Catalano, an employee of his west-Toronto clinic, the Institute of Sports Medicine Health and Wellness Centre.

Some of the medical supplies they carried were misbranded drugs.