U.S. charges Toronto doctor in HGH case

A Canadian doctor whose high-profile clients have included Tiger Woods and Alex Rodriguez was charged Tuesday with bringing unapproved drugs into the United States and unlawfully treating pro athletes.

Dr. Anthony Galea of Toronto, who is known for using a blood-spinning technique designed to speed recovery from injuries, is accused of injecting at least one current National Football League player with Actovegin, a calf’s blood derivative which is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and providing a retired player with human growth hormone after his playing days had ended.

A criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Buffalo, N.Y., charges Galea with smuggling, unlawful distribution of human growth hormone, introducing an unapproved drug into interstate commerce, conspiring to lie to federal agents and conspiracy to defraud the United States.

No athletes are identified by name in the government’s criminal complaint or supporting affidavit, which describes the 50-year-old Galea traveling to various U.S. cities to meet with athletes in hotel rooms and their homes.

Galea attorney Brian Greenspan called the complaint disappointing.

GOLF

USC leads women’s NCAA championships

USC a shot six-under-par 282 to take a two-stroke lead on Purdue after the first round of the NCAA women’s golf championships.

USC’s Jennifer Song, Purdue’s Maude-Aimee LeBlanc and Arizona State’s Jennifer Johnson each shot five-under 67s to share the individual lead at the Country Club of Landfall in Wilmington, N.C.

USC and Purdue were the only teams under par at the 6,368-yard Pete Dye Course. Defending champion Arizona State and top-ranked UCLA, two of six Pac-10 members in the 24-team field, were tied for third with Duke at 288. Alabama and Florida State were at one over.

Arizona State has won seven NCAA titles, the most of any Division I team, and Duke has won five — all since 1999.

Song and Johnson in particular finished strong. Song eagled the 18th hole, hitting an approach from about 175 yards within a few feet of the hole. Johnson made four birdies in her final six holes.

The fourth-ranked Trojans also got a strong round from Cyna Rodriguez, who shot four-under 68 to share second place with UCLA’s Brianna Do and Duke’s Kim Donovan. A total of 19 players shot rounds under par on the first day.

ETC.

Gov. says New York will bail out racing tracks

New York Gov. David Paterson says a new proposal for a state bailout will pass and New York thoroughbred racing at Belmont and Saratoga race tracks will go on as scheduled.

The Paterson administration wants to provide a loan of $15 million to $25 million to keep the New York Racing Assn. operating until it receives its share of long overdue revenue from video slot machines at Aqueduct Race Track.

The money would come from a capital construction fund for the video slots and be repaid by NYRA.

The new proposal shared with legislative leaders replaces a previous plan to loan NYRA $17 million, which was found to be unworkable.

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The United States split its singles matches against Spain at the World Team Cup. Sam Querrey tied it for the Americans by defeating Daniel Gimeno-Traver, 6-3, 6-4, Tuesday. Spain’s Nicolas Almagro saved a match point before defeating Robby Ginepri, 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (4). The best-of-three series in Duesseldorf, Germany, will be decided by a doubles match Wednesday.

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The U.S. will have a chance to play for a medal at the 2011 ice hockey world champions after TJ Oshie scored three times in the penalty shootout for a 3-2 win over Italy at Cologne, Germany, to avoid relegation.

The U.S. swept its demotion group, winning all three games.

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Former NBA center Manute Bol has been hospitalized with severe kidney trouble and a painful skin condition after falling critically ill while returning home to the United States from helping fight election corruption in his native Sudan.

It’s believed that Bol contracted the skin disease as a reaction to kidney medication he took in Africa.