November 22, 2024 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Los Angeles Area Former Cyclist to be Sentenced Today

LOS ANGELES (CNS) – A Los Angeles-based former professional cyclist, who is banned for life from competition due to doping violations, is expected to be sentenced today for selling performance-enhancing drugs imported from overseas in violation of federal law.

Nick Brandt-Sorenson, 35, faces up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine on the misdemeanor count of introducing a misbranded drug into interstate commerce, but could receive a probationary sentence, according to documents filed in Los Angeles federal court.

Defense attorney Marilyn E. Bednarski said her client regrets his involvement with the banned substances.

“The experience of the investigation and prosecution has been significant for this young man,” the attorney said. “He’s in a very different place than he was at the time. This experience has had a huge impact on him.”

Brandt-Sorenson pleaded guilty to the charge in March, admitting to selling a vial of erythropoietin, a hormone known as EPO that boosts endurance by increasing the number of red blood cells in the circulatory system, for $631 to an athlete in Colorado, according to federal prosecutors.

In 2011, Brandt-Sorenson created the “Anemia Patient Group” website “under the guise” of providing information about various performance- enhancing drugs and substances, according to the plea agreement.

In fact, Brandt-Sorenson sold Actovegin, a derivative of calf’s blood which is not approved for any use in humans, EPO and other banned substances through his blog, according to prosecutors, who said the drugs were imported from online pharmacies in China and Europe.

Brandt-Sorenson, who designs made-to-measure cycling apparel for his namesake fashion line, is a multi-time California State Criterium Champion and was briefly ranked top 20 in the country, according to the company’s website.

On July 11, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced that Brandt-Sorenson had accepted a lifetime ban for his second and third doping offenses.

In the summer of 2013, just prior to the conclusion of Brandt-Sorenson’s first period of ineligibility, the agency said it obtained non-analytical evidence indicating that the cyclist had engaged in additional prohibited doping conduct, both prior to, and subsequent to, USADA’s announcement of his first doping violation on January 2012.

USADA said this month that it had concluded that Brandt-Sorenson was involved in marketing and distributing prohibited and illegal substances to fellow athletes through the “Anemia Patient” website.

Under the agency’s code, “a lifetime period of ineligibility is the appropriate consequence for a third anti-doping rule violation,” USADA said in a press release.

Brandt-Sorenson is retired from competition, according to his website.

Related Posts

Video Shows Officer-Involved Shooting Outside SMPD Station

November 22, 2024

November 22, 2024

Officials Have Issued a Viewer Advisory, Cautioning That the Material May Be Distressing The Santa Monica Police Department has released...

Donate Blood and Save Lives at Culver City Fire Station This Weekend

November 22, 2024

November 22, 2024

Get a T-Shirt, Gift Card for Participating in the Cedars-Sinai Blood Drive The Culver City Rotary Club, in collaboration with...

LAPD Motorcycle Officer Hospitalized After 405 Freeway Crash in Sepulveda Pass

November 21, 2024

November 21, 2024

Collision Near Skirball Center DrivePossibly Involving a Tesla Caused Major Traffic  The 405 Freeway was the scene of a motorcycle...

Santa Monica Police Release Body Cam Footage of Deadly Force Incident Outside Headquarters

November 21, 2024

November 21, 2024

Graphic Video Shows a Violent Assault on an SMPD Officer by a Knife-Wielding Suspect The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD)...

Breakaway Café Opens New Venice Location with Beachside Grab-and-Go Window

November 20, 2024

November 20, 2024

Bayse Brothers Bring Their Signature Breakfast Dishes and Good Vibes to Venice Breakaway Café, a popular breakfast and lunch eatery...

Last Minute Additions to the Best Thanksgiving 2024 Feasts and Pies To Go

November 20, 2024

November 20, 2024

If Other Faves are Sold Out, Here’s All The Quality Places to Try Now Celebrity chefs Susan Feniger and Mary...

Everytable’s Holiday Meal Collaboration To Support LA’s Unhoused Youth

November 20, 2024

November 20, 2024

Chef Created Thanksgiving Meal Benefits My Friend’s Place. Everytable, the mission-driven company committed to making scratch-cooked, nutritious meals accessible to...

Los Angeles City Council Codifies Sanctuary Protections for Migrants with New Citywide Ordinance

November 19, 2024

November 19, 2024

Mayor Bass Prioritized the Ordinance after Trump’s Mass Deportation Threats The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to officially...

The Palms Community Council’s Executive Committee Schedules Special Meeting for Nov. 20

November 19, 2024

November 19, 2024

Meeting to Address Open Board Positions and Committee Updates The Executive Committee will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, Nov....

Hammer Museum Presents 10th Edition of MoMA Contenders: Screenings, Conversations with Top Filmmakers

November 19, 2024

November 19, 2024

Lineup Features Films by Steve McQueen, Sean Baker, and Brady Corbett The Hammer Museum will host the 10th edition of...

Film Review: Wicked

November 19, 2024

November 19, 2024

By Dolores Quintana Director John Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In The Heights) has crafted an effervescent take on the blockbuster...

Randy’s Donuts Arrives in Culver City with Free Donuts and a $250 Gift Card Giveaway

November 19, 2024

November 19, 2024

Grand Opening on November 19 Includes Sweet Giveaways Starting at 6:00 a.m. The time is finally here. Randy’s Donuts is...

Nicole Nagel’s Futuristic Eric Moss Designed Brentwood Home To Hit Auction Block

November 18, 2024

November 18, 2024

The Spaceship-Like Property Heads to Auction With No Reserve in December German actress Nicole Nagel, who was part of the...

LA Controller Kenneth Meija: City Left $513 Million of Homelessness Budget Unspent

November 18, 2024

November 18, 2024

Inefficiencies Blamed for Underspending Despite Record Allocation in FY2024  The City of Los Angeles hasn’t spent over half of its...

West LA College Expands Zero-Cost Textbook Programs with $600K Grant

November 18, 2024

November 18, 2024

College Aims for 50 Zero-Cost Textbook Programs by 2025  West Los Angeles College (West) is expanding its zero-cost textbook program...