The world of mixed martial arts was rocked today with the announcement that Cristiane Santos tested positive for anabolic steroids.
According to MMAJunkie.com, “Cyborg” has been suspended for one year and fined $2,500 by the California State Athletic Commission for testing positive for stanozolol metabolites following the defense of her Strikeforce Women’s Featherweight Championship title against Hiroko Yamanaka on December 17th.
Her win over Yamanaka at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego has also been overturned on account of her positive test. Santos has the right to appeal the suspension.
CSAC executive officer George Dodd said about the suspension:
“Our primary concern is for the health and safety of fighters. Anabolic agents and other banned substances put not only the users of those agents at risk, but their opponents as well. The commission simply will not tolerate their use.”
Santos is widely considered to be the best female fighter in the sport and earned $66,000 for the Yamanaka knockout that took her just 16 seconds to pull off. The victory had been Santos’ 11th straight overall and fifth since joining Strikeforce. It was Santos’ third successful title defense and her first foray into a fight in 18 months, on the heels of a prolonged contract dispute.
Santos had long been suspected of “doping” in some form or fashion but had not tested positive until December.
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