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Assistant of Canadian Doctor Escaped Jail Term for Bringing HGH and Actovegin in the US
The assistant of controversial Canadian Doctor Anthony Galea was given a lighter sentence for her possession of human growth hormone and Actovegin, an unapproved drug in the US. Mary Anne Catalano, 33, was sentenced 1 year of unsupervised probation in a US District Court. She previously pleaded guilty of providing false testimonies to investigators. Catalano was the former executive assistant of Dr Anthony Galea, who earlier pleaded guilty for bringing unapproved drugs in the country particularly Actovegin and HGH. Dr Galea?s sentencing is scheduled on October 19.
Catalano Helped Prosecutors Nail Dr Galea
The judge handling the case considers the recommendation of the federal prosecutors as very unusual. Under the sentencing guidelines, Judge Richard Arcara could impose one year jail term for Catalano. According to prosecutors, Catalano cooperated fully in investigating Dr Galea which resulted to the doctor?s felony conviction.
Catalano told investigators that she was supposed to meet clients of the doctor when she was apprehended in the US-Canada border. A duffle bag containing medical supplies including the HGH Nutropin and Actovegin was seized from her.
Catalano disclosed that in 2009, Dr Galea treated at least 23 elite athletes in the country. Tiger Woods and Alex Rodriguez are just some of the professional athletes who admitted receiving treatments from the Canadian doctor. Dr Galea traveled to the country many times to treat athletes usually at homes or hotels. The government contends that Dr Galea has no license in the US to practice his medical profession.
Athletes Received Injections of HGH
Another testimony of Catalano that could put several athletes under the radar of federal investigators and professional leagues is her allegation that Dr Galea made injections of HGH on professional athletes. Those athletes named publicly as former patients of the doctor denied any treatment of HGH or anabolic steroids.
Based on the report of ESPN, authorities in Canada also seized from Galea?s office records and journals of professional athletes treated by the doctor. File folders for NFL and CFL players were also discovered. Authorities did not disclose if there were any illegal treatments given to these athletes.
MLB and NFL Wants to Know More
During the sentencing, MLB representatives were present. The lawyer of Catalano, Rod Personius, told the ESPN that Daniel Mullin, MLB?s vice president of investigations and assistant Victor Burgos arrange a meeting with him to discuss Catalano?s possible role in MLB investigation. There were also reports that the NFL is interested in the getting more information from the former assistant of Dr Galea.
Players Treated with HGH Still Unnamed
Because of the plea deals of Dr Galea and Catalano, the names of athletes allegedly injected with human growth hormones were still undisclosed. This is the reason why the MLB and the NFL wanted to talk to Catalano and most probably making her a witness if an investigation proceeds. However, Personius told the media that her client will not cooperate with outside investigations until Galea is sentenced.
The assistant of controversial Canadian Doctor Anthony Galea was given a lighter sentence for her possession of human growth hormone and Actovegin, an unapproved drug in the US. Mary Anne Catalano, 33, was sentenced 1 year of unsupervised probation in a US District Court. She previously pleaded guilty of providing false testimonies to investigators. Catalano was the former executive assistant of Dr Anthony Galea, who earlier pleaded guilty for bringing unapproved drugs in the country particularly Actovegin and HGH. Dr Galea?s sentencing is scheduled on October 19.
Catalano Helped Prosecutors Nail Dr Galea
The judge handling the case considers the recommendation of the federal prosecutors as very unusual. Under the sentencing guidelines, Judge Richard Arcara could impose one year jail term for Catalano. According to prosecutors, Catalano cooperated fully in investigating Dr Galea which resulted to the doctor?s felony conviction.
Catalano told investigators that she was supposed to meet clients of the doctor when she was apprehended in the US-Canada border. A duffle bag containing medical supplies including the HGH Nutropin and Actovegin was seized from her.
Catalano disclosed that in 2009, Dr Galea treated at least 23 elite athletes in the country. Tiger Woods and Alex Rodriguez are just some of the professional athletes who admitted receiving treatments from the Canadian doctor. Dr Galea traveled to the country many times to treat athletes usually at homes or hotels. The government contends that Dr Galea has no license in the US to practice his medical profession.
Athletes Received Injections of HGH
Another testimony of Catalano that could put several athletes under the radar of federal investigators and professional leagues is her allegation that Dr Galea made injections of HGH on professional athletes. Those athletes named publicly as former patients of the doctor denied any treatment of HGH or anabolic steroids.
Based on the report of ESPN, authorities in Canada also seized from Galea?s office records and journals of professional athletes treated by the doctor. File folders for NFL and CFL players were also discovered. Authorities did not disclose if there were any illegal treatments given to these athletes.
MLB and NFL Wants to Know More
During the sentencing, MLB representatives were present. The lawyer of Catalano, Rod Personius, told the ESPN that Daniel Mullin, MLB?s vice president of investigations and assistant Victor Burgos arrange a meeting with him to discuss Catalano?s possible role in MLB investigation. There were also reports that the NFL is interested in the getting more information from the former assistant of Dr Galea.
Players Treated with HGH Still Unnamed
Because of the plea deals of Dr Galea and Catalano, the names of athletes allegedly injected with human growth hormones were still undisclosed. This is the reason why the MLB and the NFL wanted to talk to Catalano and most probably making her a witness if an investigation proceeds. However, Personius told the media that her client will not cooperate with outside investigations until Galea is sentenced.