Published: 2010-07-08 00:02:04
Author: ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune | March 23, 2010
A Virginia chiropractor was arrested today in a Polk County probe involving allegations of steroids sales to professional athletes.
Douglas Owen Nagel, 50, of Reston, Va., is charged with seven counts of solicitation to deliver a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance.
He was arrested by Polk County sheriff's detectives and U.S. marshals at his home, the Polk sheriff's office said. His bail was set at $40,000.
The sheriff's office said it had no conclusive evidence Nagel provided steroids to pro athletes.
Investigators were led to Nagel by Richard "Andy" Thomas, who pleaded guilty in November to a federal charge of possession of steroids with intent to distribute. The Lakeland man is scheduled to be sentenced March 31.
Thomas told investigators he sold steroids to Nagel, who Thomas said worked with players on the Washington Nationals baseball team and the Washington Capitals hockey team, records state.
"The Nationals have absolutely no association with this doctor and never have," said John Denver, a spokesman for the baseball team.
Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said Nagel told investigators he was a chiropractor for several professional sports teams; he said detectives found marketing materials that appear to support that claim.
Judd also said detectives confirmed through a trainer for the Capitals that Nagel provided chiropractic services to some team members. Sheriff's spokeswoman Carrie Eleazer said Nagel's office is adjacent to the Capitals' arena.
As of March 2, Nagel's Web site referred to him as the Capitals' team chiropractor, documents provided by the sheriff's office show. But that reference was not on the site Tuesday.
Officials with the hockey team could not be reached for comment. The Capitals' Web site does not list Nagel among its medical staff.
Nagel was fined $1,000 in 2005 by the Virginia Board of Medicine for failing to disclose to the board that he had been cited in Pennsylvania for practicing there without a state license, records show. In 2006, he was fined $500 and placed on professional probation for two years after being found guilty of professional misconduct.