Actovegin

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New updates on the sports physician Dr Galea who is being charged with illegally importing HGH and Actovegin. Never heard of the latter but it sounds interresting. Anyone know anything about it?


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"It was Catalano who first triggered the sweeping investigation into Galea – which now includes four federal agencies on both sides of the border – when she allegedly tried to transport 20 vials and 76 ampoules of drugs, including illegal human growth hormone, over the U.S. border at Buffalo in September, U.S. court documents show.

She was driving a Nissan Rogue registered to Galea Investments Inc.

Catalano faces a federal charge in the U.S. for allegedly attempting to smuggle illegal drugs into the country.

More than that, she has emerged as an intriguing subplot because of her description of events to U.S. border officials.

The 32-year-old told U.S. officials Galea asked her to transport the drugs – which they both allegedly knew to be illegal – into New York because he had already been ``flagged'' for making his own attempts, says an affidavit filed in court by a special agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Greenspan said he isn't worried about Catalano's testimony.

"If she tells the truth, that will be consistent (with Galea's evidence)."

And he said Galea's treatment of Woods has nothing to do with the charges before the court.

"Any suggestion of any linkage to Tiger Woods is non-existent."

The Crown's disclosure documents – which are still incomplete – make no mention of Woods, he added.

The drug at the centre of the RCMP's case against Galea is Actovegin.

An extract of calf's blood, Actovegin is not approved for sale in Canada or the U.S., is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency if used intravenously and is the source of intense debate in sport medicine circles.

The RCMP alleges Galea ``illegally imported and smuggled drugs into Canada,'' that he "intended to treat patients outside Canada with Actovegin,'' that he administered the unapproved drug in Canada and that he ``conspired to export these drugs to the U.S."

Greenspan said Galea's use of the drug is in no way illegal.

"There are many substances not approved by Health Canada which, when used by a physician, are totally lawful."

North America is simply "behind the times" when it comes to the drug, which is used "routinely throughout the world," Greenspan added.

Ontario's College of Physicians and Surgeons urges doctors not to use unapproved drugs on patients but doesn't ban the practice, as long as there's patient consent.

Dr. Andrew Pipe, an Ottawa sport medicine specialist and former chair of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, says Actovegin has been used by athletes seeking to enhance their performance.

"It's not part of the normal repertoire of medications that sports medicine physicians use to treat their patients."

Greenspan said Galea continues to treat patients in his Etobicoke clinic and that there are no restrictions on his medical licence.

Galea's next court date is Jan. 28. Catalano's case is next before a court in Buffalo Jan. 15."

[#8]

Galea is a great Doc and I still get treatments and training there from time to time. This is such bullshit. He wont serve any time or have any consequences from this, and nor should he.

Heaven forbid some pro athletes got their hands on some GH....lol

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Did some research...

What Is Actovegin?
''Actovegin is a de-proteinized extract of calf blood," says Wadler. It's been produced by Nycomed Austria GmbH since 1996, according to the company's web site.

A statement on the site says "the raw material is calf blood sources from calves below 8 months of age."

But its history goes back much further than 1996, Wadler says. "It has been studied at least since the late 1970s," he tells WebMD.

What are the medical uses of Actovegin?
Among its uses, Wadler says, is the treatment of peripheral artery disease and strokes.

A search of medical literature turns up several published studies of the drug, with research ranging from treatment of cognitive disturbances after stroke to ulcers.

What are the benefits of Actovegin use in athletes?
In research studies, Actovegin has been shown to exert insulin-like activity, such as stimulating the transport of glucose in the body, as well as glucose oxidation.

That could be good news for athletes, Wadler says. "Athletes are always looking to get more oxygen to working muscles."

''The idea here was to deliver it therapeutically, to improve the transport and use of oxygen and sugar," he says.

What is the International Olympic Committee's view of Actovegin?
''In December 2000, the International Olympic Committee became sufficiently concerned that Actovegin was being abused in cycling to put it on the banned list," Wadler says. It had become the center of controversy after the 2000 Tour de France, in which Lance Armstrong's team was accused of using the drug -- a contention the team denied.

However, Wadler says, in 2001 the International Olympic Committee removed it from the banned list pending further research.

How widely used is Actovegin?

The drug is sold via the Internet and is available in tablet form, injections, infusions, and topical formulas such as creams, gels, and ointments. According to the Nycomed site, the drug is marketed to hospital specialists and general practitioners in European markets, China, Russia, and elsewhere.

Online, one pharmaceutical site offers 85 tablets of 200-milligram formula Actovegin for $85.

[tiramisu]

So docter's can't use treatments that work because the Olympic Committee say so.

ummm, **** that.

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NOONE has info about this stuff?

[thealfa]

who is selling 85 tablets of 200-milligram formula Actovegin for $85? I've seen 50 tablets only for same mg and same price, from $84 to over $100! PM me the sites, don't post here as this might get deleted.