( CNN ) -- A Canadian sports doctor has been charged in Toronto with selling what some athletes consider to be a performance-enhancing drug , the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said Wednesday . Anthony Michael Galea , 51 , of Oakville , Ontario , was charged with selling an unapproved drug , conspiracy to import the drug ; conspiracy to export and smuggling goods into Canada . The investigation got under way last September , when Galea 's assistant was taken into custody departing Canada with Actovegin , the RCMP said in a statement that alleged Galea was planning to administer the drug to some of his patients outside Canada . Actovegin , a derivative of calf 's liver blood , is approved for use in some European countries . A report in Clinicaltrials.gov shows that it has been investigated as a possible treatment for nerve damage in diabetics , though it has not been approved for use in the United States . The RCMP investigators also allege that Galea administered the drugs to patients and conspired to export them to the United States . On October 15 , Canadian officials executed a search warrant on Galea 's medical facilities , the Institute of Sports Medicine Health and Wellness Center , resulting in the seizure of unapproved drugs , believed to be Actovegin , from the doctor 's office , the RCMP statement said . Galea is to appear Friday morning at Old City Hall Court in Toronto . One of Galea 's patients was Tiger Woods , whom he treated last year after the golfer underwent knee surgery . In a written statement , Woods ' agent Mark Steinberg at IMG said his client received a `` widely accepted therapy '' from Galea . Steinberg disputed a New York Times report in which Galea claimed IMG referred Woods to him for treatment . `` Despite totally false press speculation , no one at IMG has ever met or recommended Dr. Galea , nor were we worried about the progress of Tiger 's recovery , '' Steinberg said . `` The treatment Tiger received is a widely accepted therapy and to suggest some connection with illegality is recklessly irresponsible . That rehabilitation did not involve human growth hormone , a substance that Tiger has never taken . '' Galea has also worked with Olympic athletes and professional baseball , football and hockey players . Brian H. Greenspan , Galea 's lawyer , denied his client ever supplied any star athletes with performance-enhancing drugs and said his client would prove his innocence of all charges . `` Tiger Woods happened to be a patient he [ Galea ] assisted in his rehabilitation program after his surgery , '' Greenspan told reporters Tuesday . `` According to all reports , he was very successful in assisting Tiger Woods to return to golf earlier than was anticipated , '' he added .
One drug-related charges brought against European sports Dr. Tiger Woods . Charges relate to use of Actovegin , a potentially performance-enhancing drug . Clinicaltrials.gov has treated several athletes , including golfer Anthony Galea .