Key takeaways about pain specialist to star athletes accused of issuing illegal opioid prescriptions

Joan Rubinger, a sports-medicine nurse practitioner in Charlotte, N.C., who presented a client list including 169 NFL Pro Bowl selections, 29 NBA/WNBA champions and 15 Olympic medalists, is accused by the DEA of secretly prescribing illegal, highly addictive painkillers. The agency alleged she issued controlled substances without legitimate medical purpose and instructed clients in more than 20 states on how to avoid federal scrutiny. The DEA last month revoked her authority to prescribe controlled substances after an administrative law judge found “egregious conduct.” Rubinger also agreed in March to pay $1.4 million to settle a Justice Department civil complaint, without admitting wrongdoing. She has not faced criminal charges. Prosecutors declined to explain why no criminal case was brought despite allegations of 900 violations.