A day after news broke that Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Santos had tested positive for steroids following a drug test for her fight versus Hiroko Yamanaka last month (Dec. 16, 2011), the fighter has released a statement on her Facebook page.
In it, she takes full responsibility apologizing to the fans, Strikeforce, Zuffa, and the UFC, but defends herself by saying she used a dietary supplement for a tough weight cut.
The California State Athletic Commission suspended her for a year and fined her $2,500, while Dana White stated that she had been stripped of her Strikeforce women’s featherweight title.
Here is ‘Cyborg’s’ full statement:
I would like to sincerely apologize to StrikeForce, the Zuffa organization, Hioko Yamanaka and my fans for my failed drug test.
I am ultimately responsible for everything I put in my body, and at the end of the day, there is no excuse for having a prohibited substance in my system. I do not condone the use of any performance enhancing drugs by myself or any other professional athlete, and willingly accept the penalties and fines that have been handed down to me by the California State Athletic Commission and those of the StrikeForce/Zuffa organization.
While I was preparing myself for my last fight I was having a difficult time cutting weight and used a dietary supplement that I was assured was safe and not prohibited from use in sports competition. It was never my intention to obtain an unfair advantage over Hiroko, mislead StrikeForce, the Commission or my fans. I train harder than any fighter in MMA and do not need drugs to win in the cage, and I have proven this time and time again! My only mistake is not verifying the diet aid with my doctor beforehand, and understanding that it was not approved for use in the ring. Unfortunately in the end I suffer the consequences and must accept the responsibility for my actions.
I will do everything I can to show my fans that I can still compete at the professional level without the use of any prohibited substances, and ask God’s forgiveness for my mistake.
Cris Santos – Curitiba, Brazil January 7th, 2012
If she can produce the name of this dietary supplement, and it can be shown to increase testosterone levels, this will take some of the heat off of her, but the damage is already done.
It will be interesting to see how women’s mma recovers from this blow to the sport.