Despite an appeal by former Strikeforce Women’s Featherweight champion Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Santos (10-1, 1NC) to have her sentence reduced to six months, the California State Athletic Commission agreed to uphold her one-year suspension during today’s hearing.
Santos was suspended last December following a positive steroid test following her 16-second TKO finish of opponent Hiroko Yamanaka in a title defense of ‘Cyborg’s title. The Brazilian tested positive for stanozolol following the bout, which she has blamed on a supplement she claims was given to her by her coaching staff to cut weight.
Santos went before the CSAC today (April 9, 2012) to explain her side of the story, accepting responsibility for what went into her body but asking for leniency due to the circumstances.
Her appeal did not sway enough of the voting commissioners to rule in her favor, leaving her with the one-year suspension and $2,500 fine, which according to MMAFighting.com, was already paid by Santos last December.
This leaves ‘Cyborg’ with a possible return date of December 2012. It’s certain that she will be scrutinized heavily when she re-applies for a new fighter license at that time.
Former Strikeforce light heavyweight Muhammed ‘King Mo’ Lawal recently received a nine-month suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission but received a stiffer fine to the tune of $39,000 for his failed drug test.
Also up for likely suspension will be UFC heavyweight, and former Strikeforce champ, Alistair Overeem who has a license hearing on April 24 with the NSAC.