AUGUSTA, Ga. — Obviously prepared for the question, Tiger Woods yesterday said he never used human growth hormone, never took any illegal drug and hasn’t undergone treatment for addiction to prescription drugs.
Like several other world-class athletes, Woods has been linked to Dr. Anthony Galea, the Canadian doctor who is being investigated for being involved with the use of HGH.
Much like Alex Rodriguez, Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes, who were also treated by Galea, Woods said federal investigators have reached out to his agent and might want to speak to him.
“Yeah, they actually contacted Steiny [Woods’ agent Mark Steinberg] and full cooperation, whenever they need me,” Woods said. “But as of right now, they have not asked for my time.”
Woods confirmed that Galea “did come to my house” to treat him, but added, “He never gave me HGH or any PEDs. I’ve never taken that my entire life. I’ve never taken any illegal drug, ever, for that matter.
“I had PRP, platelet-enriched plasma treatments, and basically what that is that that they draw blood from your arm, spin it in a centrifuge and spin the plasma into the entries. As you all know, in 2008 I blew out my ACL, and part of my reconstruction with my LCL, it wasn’t reacting properly, it was a little bit stuck. So I had the PRP injection into my LCL.
“Then in December, I started to train, start running again and I tore my Achilles in my right leg. I then had PRP injections throughout the year. I kept re-tearing it throughout the year and throughout the summer.
“I used tape most of the year to play, and so . . . I also went to hyperbaric chambers after the injections . . . it does help you heal faster and did everything I possibly could to heal faster so I could get back on the golf course going through the PRP injections.”