Strikeforce Women’s Champion Santos Suspended For Steroids

Hey remember a few years ago when Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos dashed all of our hopes by destroying hottie Gina Carano in the first round of their Strikeforce women’s featherweight championship fight? Yeah, well now Santos’ entire career is completely in question.

On December 16 - the day before fighting Japan’s Hiroko Yamanaka and knocking her out in 16 seconds - Santos tested positive for Stanazolol, an anabolic steroid. According to Dana White, Santos has since been stripped of her featherweight title, and now the victory over Yamanaka has been turned into a no-contest.

Santos lost her first professional fight in 2005, and since then she had won 10 straight fights before the bout with Yamanaka.

Frankly, anyone who has ever seen Santos knew she was taking something. I mean, just look at the headline picture.

Carano and Santos fought it what was easily the most (read: only) major ticket fight in women’s mixed martial arts history back in August of 2009. Cyborg got the win at 4:59 in the first round, and Carano hasn’t fought since.

Santos, who is originally from Brazil, remains on Strikeforce’s roster and the length of her suspension has not yet been announced.

This is the UFC has previously had three sitting champions test positive for banned substances. Heavyweight champion Josh Barnett tested positive after a 2002 victory over Randy Couture; Tim Sylvia failed a 2003 test after a successful title defense over Gan McGee; and lightweight champion Sean Sherk failed a 2007 test after a title defense against Hermes Franca. Each man was subsequently stripped of his title.

UPDATE: Cyborg’s suspension will reportedly last a year.