Tiger Woods' Doc Arrested for Illegal Performance-Enhancing Drugs

Tiger Woods' doctor was arrested in October for performance-enhancing drug violations. Dr. Tony Galea, who once flew to Woods' home for a specialized blood injection therapy known as 'spinning', was arrested, according to the New York Daily News, in Canada for being found in possession of human growth hormone and the banned substance known as Actovegin, which is derivative of calf's blood. Galea is expected to have charges filed against him later this week in Toronto.

While none of this means Woods has used steroids, human growth hormone or any other performance-enhancing drugs, the arrest and trial of Galea is a potentially very disturbing development. While Woods has already fallen from grace in the eyes of the public, and a growing list of sponsors, for his personal behavior, his golfing legacy has remained untouched as he is still regarded as one of the best, if not the best golfer of all time.

But if the steroids and performance enhancing drugs scandal that has mostly tainted baseball in recent years spreads now to golf, and most specifically to Woods, we could be witnessing the most dramatic, and in many ways tragic, fall from grace for any athlete of any era.

If any evidence, circumstantial or not, emerges that suggests Woods was using undetectable performance enhancing drugs, ranging from steroids to human growth hormone, it very likely could make the Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens' controversies look like parking tickets.

Fairly or not, Woods had a squeaky clean image up until the end of November. While, in retrospect, Woods did little to purposely create this image beyond saying little and apparently staying out trouble, the fact is that his sponsors, inner circle and Woods himself benefited tremendously by it. As the truth about Woods serial adultery has been laid bare, and as his sponsors have begun leaving him, he will naturally get a far lower benefit of the doubt if illegal performance enhancing drug rumors start to float.

If the rumors persist and grow, Woods may very well go down as the most disgraced athlete of all time. Just three weeks ago, it would be very easy to argue that Woods belonged on the Mount Rushmore of sports in this country, along with names such as Babe Ruth, Wayne Gretzky and Michael Jordan. While I believe he could have maintained that status even with his personal problems, if it is revealed, or even strongly suggested, that Woods has used illegal performance enhancing drugs, Tiger Woods may go down as the most disgraced athlete of all time.

Source: Michael O'Keefe, Michael Thompson and Nathaniel Vinton, "Tiger Woods' doc Tony Galea linked to baned drugs, colleague with ties to BALCO athletes and A-Rod", nydailynews.com