Cris "Cyborg" Santos is appealing her one-year suspension from the California State Athletic Commission.
SI.com's Loretta Hunt reported Monday night that Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos has begun the process of appealing her one year suspension from the California State Athletic Commission with CSAC Executive Officer George Dodd "likely" expecting an April 9th date to hear the appeal.
The then-Strikeforce 145-pound women's champion was suspended on January 6th after her December 17th annihilation of Hiroko Yamanaka when a pre-fight urine sample tested positive for the synthetic anabolic steroid Stanozolol. Santos would have been eligible to apply for her license to be reinstated on December 17, 2012.
Santos claimed that she had taken a supplement to assist with her weight cutting for the Yamanaka fight that turned out to be tainted. Soon after the suspension, Zuffa co-owner Dana White announced that Santos would be stripped of her title and that the future of the division within Strikeforce was in doubt.
The 26-year-old had returned to action for the first time in 18 months against Yamanaka, a 16-second destruction that was ruled a no-contest following the suspension. She had compiled a 10-1 record to that point, winning the 145-pound gold in August 2009 with a first round TKO over Gina Carano with successive wins over Marloes Coenen and Jan Finney.
Note: Hunt updated her story Tuesday afternoon with April 9 as the likely hearing date.
0 recs | 126 comments
Good fucking luck.
MicahtheCynic - January 16, 2012
i really don't care. i just care to see Cyborg whipped the heck outta Ronda
daftshadow - January 17, 2012
Which is unlikely to happen
Ronda dumps her on her head and takes her arm home.
discoandherpes - January 17, 2012
Why dont you like Ronda?
I think Ronda is the best thing to happen to womans MMA period(excuse the pun! :D) Shes talented, Olympic background which will gain respect in some usually non MMA circles, she’s very intelligent, a good talker/on camera personality. Hell I havn’t even got to hot yet. Most of all she’s created interest in womans MMA like no one since Gina.
I have little interest in seeing Cyborg return, not to be nasty to her but I really don’t see her as a woman no matter how much I think give her a chance. Deep down I feel uneasy like I’m watching domestic abuse.
Mustardfinger - January 17, 2012
I assume you wanted to reply to daftshadow right? Rousey is my favorite female fighter.
discoandherpes - January 17, 2012
Ronda is meh...
And would get schooled by Cyborg, Roids or not.
Shit even she knew it thus the mega duckage and subsequent flee to a lighter division with a weaker champion…. lamesauce.
Chin Check - January 17, 2012
If you say so.
discoandherpes - January 17, 2012
Soooo……….roids or not? How can you be sure what kind of fighter Cyborg looks like without roids? Has she ever shown even a modicum of technique or skill that didnt involve her overwhelming size and strength advantage?
Hutchy - January 17, 2012
Steroids aided her recovery time and training intensity...
You act like steroids are some kind of wonder drink that teaches you BJJ and Muay Thai in a couple swings with little to no training required lol
Chin Check - January 17, 2012
Tell me when Cyborg learns BJJ and MT
Cause all I see is wild hays and bad grappling.
discoandherpes - January 17, 2012
She won gold at the mundials at purple
Not that this means much considering it was mostly throws and muscling through everything.
menckenstein - January 17, 2012
Nah it was all the steroids doing, They did it all, Cyborg just sat back and enjoyed the ride apparently lol
Chin Check - January 17, 2012
Yeah being busted for steroids doesn't at all sully your athletic accomplishments
Especially when you used strength over technique the entire time.
menckenstein - January 17, 2012
Obviously she was taking steriods since her handball days
So we’ll throw all that out the window as well without any need of evidence, Just heresay… Sounds great!
Chin Check - January 17, 2012
And of Cyborgs last 4 opponents...
The only one she was actually taller then was Finney… By a staggering 1 inch.
I think you guys judge her so harshly because she is ugly and Ronda is pretty…ish.
Plain and simple, I watch MMA for fighting, If i wanted to watch pretty girls id watch Victoria’s secret so i couldnt give a rats ass how fugly she is as long as she brings the pain, Which she most certainly does.
Ill reserve my judgement on this whole steroids issue till the CSAC hands down its judgement and we have all the facts.
Chin Check - January 17, 2012
"brings the pain"
ChillMike - January 17, 2012
Yeah because I was talking about handball from years gone by and not the 2011 IBJJF world championships or her tenure in Strikeforce
I think it’s high time you slap yourself
menckenstein - January 17, 2012
And you know she was on steroids the entire time because you have a magic crystal ball.
Please! You are guessing and assuming, You have no idea if anything you say about her supposed past steroid abuse is true and are flagrantly pulling things straight from your anus.
I used the handball reference to highlight how ridiculous you were being but you clearly missed the point so ill leave it at that lol
Feel free to commence the slapping on yourself. :)
Chin Check - January 17, 2012
Well she tested positive for stanozolol
She also has the physical characteristics of steroid use but let’s ignore those things in favor of being an argumentative baby with his head planted so far up his own keister he can watch his food digest.
menckenstein - January 17, 2012
There it is!!!
Vegas set the over/under on “number of replies in thread before desperate Cyborg defender invokes the ‘can you PROVE she was on roids??’ longshot defense” at 8.5
Hutchy - January 17, 2012 via mobile
And yes, I assume she was on roids for every single fight. Neither of us can prove our position either way, but guess which looks more reasonable given events of the past month?
Hutchy - January 17, 2012 via mobile
Is it the guy that’s assuming that every drug test she took except the one that backs up his position was wrong?
Phildo - January 17, 2012
If he's unaware of how people cycle steroids... still no.
menckenstein - January 17, 2012
This is why this whole thing is BS to me. Every negative test is useless because people cycle, and every positive test is infallible and means someone has been cheating for their entire life (I guess they just forgot how to cycle this last time.)
No one know who is doing what, so speculating about it is pointless. She tested positive, she will serve her suspension and come back, trying to make any other grand proclamations is stupid because you can’t prove anything.
Phildo - January 17, 2012
Hatred clouds you're judgement and undermines your arguments
Chin Check - January 17, 2012
lol
no.
RR is an Olympic Judoka, she’s gonna rip her fucking arm off.
RolloTomasi - January 17, 2012
Will this end well for her?
Earl Montclair - January 16, 2012
What do I have to do with this?
Tim Bernier - January 16, 2012
Not you Tim. The other Tim.
Earl Montclair - January 16, 2012
Everyone knows I’m the best Tim B. on this site.
Tim Bernier - January 17, 2012 via mobile
go wiki Home Improvement
Robert V-U - January 16, 2012
...
I get the joke. I was making one of my own.
Tim Bernier - January 17, 2012 via mobile
my blunder
BE seems somewhats international, so I wouldn’t have been surprised if someone hadn’t heard of it haha
Robert V-U - January 17, 2012
Haha it’s all good.
Tim Bernier - January 17, 2012 via mobile
I grew up in Africa and even I know what Home Improvement is.
I loved The Golden Girls. Who’s the Boss rocked. WKRP in Cincinnati. Now there was a show. Sure it was aired 10 years after it aired in the US, and I don’t know where Cincinnati is, and it was dubbed into a different language. So what. Haters gonna hate.
UncleMax - January 17, 2012
of course it is, we’re talking about CSAC. As long as she doesn’t confess or delay the hearing for a year she’ll be back in 6 months.
Phildo - January 17, 2012
Ridiculous. Zuffa should cut ties with her and shut down 145. The 115 and 135 women’s divisions are the only weights that are semi-viable.
Nater3467 - January 16, 2012
As soon as Zuffa establishes a one and done policy on positive tests and uses it on everyone then you can cut Cyborg. But, that’s not how it will ever work and if you do cut Cris then you are treating her differently from everyone else in Zuffa for one reason. She’s a woman. Sorry. That doesn’t work.
memitim - January 16, 2012 via mobile
A one and done policy?
That would be a shit show.
Ricardo Arguello - January 16, 2012
Of course. It would never, ever happen and shouldn’t be employed only on Cyborg.
memitim - January 16, 2012 via mobile
Different circumstances
Cyborg is the only reason to keep around 145. Since she popped, they really have no reason to keep her.
discoandherpes - January 17, 2012
She can drop to 135. And shes got some name value so itll help the division.
Ricardo Arguello - January 17, 2012
She has struggled to make 145
He was popped using an illegal substance to help her cut the weight. What makes you think she can drop down?
discoandherpes - January 17, 2012
I absolutely think that Cyborg should be treated differently. What other division under Zuffa is in place for only one fighter? She was in a special position within the company and she blew it and is refusing to take responsibility for her actions.
Nater3467 - January 17, 2012
That is total bullshit. There were others who could compete at 145 and Cyborg said she was ready to compete at 135 if necessary. No Zuffa champ has been cut after one failed, questioned test. There needs to be equality or it is all bullshit.
memitim - January 17, 2012 via mobile
Im all for for WMMA in the viable weight classes. With Cyborg out of the picture for a long time and Rousey dropping, Id rather see them promoting a division with some actual talent outside of there champ like 115.
Nater3467 - January 17, 2012
That’s why I want a WMMA division at 140. So many fights are possible at that weight and because of substantial biological differences 140 is an equitable weight class in WMMA. They should not be bound to men’s weight classes. Their make up is so different.
memitim - January 17, 2012 via mobile
Not this 140 nonsense again
discoandherpes - January 17, 2012
So basically we are all just living in Memitim’s perfect world, where Cyborg, a proven liar, SAYING she can make 135 equals her actually BEING able to make 135, or we all compete at 140 since one guy, Memetim, finds it more “equitable”. Seems we only need 140 to accomodate one fighter: the aforementioned proven liar.
Hutchy - January 17, 2012
I agree.
discoandherpes - January 17, 2012
Come down from your cross. Nothing is proven yet.
memitim - January 17, 2012 via mobile
Yes it is. She failed a test. Game over.
Hutchy - January 17, 2012 via mobile
So did Sherk and Bigfoot. Failing a test means nothing till the appeal process is complete.
memitim - January 17, 2012 via mobile
I don't recall Bigfoot successfully appealing a suspension
I think he just fought outside of the US in the meantime, right?
menckenstein - January 17, 2012
There needs to be context or there is no reason.
Cyborg is out for a year and there are no compelling fights in the division at all. With or without Cyborg, the division is weak, untalented, and nobody cares.
And anyways, this is standard for Zuffa. Barnett won a title, was stripped for testing positive. Sylvia had the title and defended but tested positive and was stripped. They both had other people in the division, which womens 145 does not have, so who gives a shit about losing the fighters there?
pdl - January 17, 2012
145 does have two challengers. And they are the two biggest names in WMMA. Gina and Ronda. In no way should Cyborg be cut. Serve out her suspension, yes. Cut, hell no. I have stated before a need for making a 140 division. So many fights are available at that division.
memitim - January 17, 2012 via mobile
Ronda is a natural 135er.
As for Gina, I refer you to my poorly formatted but content loaded Gina Carano List.
pdl - January 17, 2012
Lol
linkage
Tim Bernier - January 16, 2012
She's 26?
God she looks like shes at least a man.
Ricardo Arguello - January 16, 2012
huh?
Robert V-U - January 16, 2012
He thinks she is just a little boy
halitosis - January 17, 2012 via mobile
Girl's playing the Game, now. She knows that the most she can aspire to is a reduced suspension.
Unabomberman - January 16, 2012
Has California ever not reduced a suspension upon appeal?
Tedd Welch - January 17, 2012
Didn’t they just drag the Barnett thing out until he withdrew his appeal?
Tag01 - January 17, 2012
I remember that as Barnett dragging the Barnett thing out until we all stopped caring
Tedd Welch - January 17, 2012
not that I can recall
Sherk, Toney, Sonnen… all got it reduced. I’m sure there are probably instances, but none that I’m aware of
Cory Braiterman - January 17, 2012
I thought Sherk’s suspension was maintained to a full year?
Shnak - January 17, 2012
This tainted supplement B.S. wears me out. If you got some bad product give us the name, let your fellow fighters know what they need to watch out for.
Tag01 - January 16, 2012
that wouldnt solve anything
At least, I dont think. A lot of fighters get a nutrition company to sponsor them to get their supps on the cheap or free. You’ll see a lot of guys have MusclePharm on their shorts or even bigger name companies like BSN.
If a fighter claims he/she/heshe took a tainted supplement and then says ‘yeah I took Musclepharm ______, it was tainted’ thats basically calling out your sponsor who gives you money and supplements to make it easier to train and afford to be a fighter. Hurts the companies bottom line in the end and it burns bridges. Plus it tries to put blame on the company, not the fighter.
And in the end, the fighter is to blame
Ricardo Arguello - January 16, 2012
Fuck that company then.
They get you fined by the commission and suspended from competition so you can’t earn money then why stay loyal? In the most callous of terms, they hurt your bank account. They betrayed your trust and gave you things that are illegal, knowing full well what sport you participate in and what goes in to their products. Sell them down the river if they gave you a tainted supplement because that business is unethical and awful on every level.
pdl - January 17, 2012
Yep.
If a pro fighter every ACTUALLY got a tainted supplement they’d sue them. End of story. This is a business. She’s making exactly zero from any sponsors for the length of her suspension anyway.
Tag01 - January 17, 2012
I get that.
You miss the point. This is the same line baseball players use, yet no one can ever remember what it was exactly that was tainted. Do you honestly think a fighter out there would take a 1 year suspension to protect a sponsor? No chance. Do you honestly think there’s MusclePharm tainted with anabolic steroids? doubt it.
If this wasn’t complete, total bullshit she would have sued somebody already. She’s not protecting a sponsor, she’s full of shit.
Tag01 - January 17, 2012
The problem with this is most of the supplements that are “tainted” usually say “will make you test positive for x” on the label.
Phildo - January 17, 2012
no I get it
Im just saying, if they call out the company thats what would happen. She popped for roids and is blaming a supplement.
Passing the buck.
Ricardo Arguello - January 17, 2012
not true
though nothing like artificial steroids was involved, jack3d and products like it have been a major problem for tested athletes. Last year there were quite a few cases where people took it despite checking the WADA lists – WADA lists it as 1,3dimethylamylamine (IIRC), but many supplements list it as a geranamine, Methylhexanamine, or the innocuous sounding “geranium extract” – like somthing granny might have with her herbal tea. Yes, ultimate responsibility lies with the athlete – but the labelling is very confusing.
Beyond people just not knowing what they were taking, there were genuine cases of contamination – I think it was South African rugby players – many supps for different companies are all made in the same factories, and QC can be low, so products can be cross-contaminated. Fortunately for the rugby players, they had paid extra to have the company certify the products only contained certain stuff, and they had leftovers and unopened tubs that they could submit for testing and prove contamination.
I can’t think of any supplement companies selling stanozolol though.
quick_dry - January 17, 2012
That’s what the hearing is for.
memitim - January 16, 2012 via mobile
You bet. I'm sure she'll remember what supplement it was by then.
Or not.
Tag01 - January 17, 2012
If not then she has no shot of getting the suspension reduced, which is what this is all about.
memitim - January 17, 2012 via mobile
I don't remember any roid user that claims bad supplements naming a brand.
But the point of this is without a doubt getting the suspension reduced.
Tag01 - January 17, 2012
I’m sure if you look at the transcripts of these different hearings some of the caught users stated what they took and why. Chael had some quack doctor show up and give an explanation that got his sentenced reduced. It’s only recently that we have begun to watch these hearings real time. If Cris shows up to her hearing and doesn’t disclose what she took she will lose her appeal. And, now, we will all be watching with multiple MMA reporters tweeting as it happens. This is a new era of accountability, tho much more is needed.
memitim - January 17, 2012 via mobile
There have been a few
JC Romero successfully proved that he actually had tainted supplements in court. His story is a little more legit though and he still got suspended.
Kevin Williams and Will Smith also named names.
joker24 - January 17, 2012
Good research
Cory Braiterman - January 17, 2012
She can always just show up and swear at them.
Tedd Welch - January 17, 2012
Yup, anything but a full confession will probably end up with 6 months.
Phildo - January 17, 2012
Wheres chael when u need h a m b e e f r o a s t
yellopanda - January 17, 2012
Somewhere taking steroids.
MicahtheCynic - January 17, 2012
And committing fraud but hey he can talk smack well so that makes him cool..
/insert thick sarcasm
Chin Check - January 17, 2012
Defrauding an insurance company to get the owners a nice discount on their downpayment.
Chael is a fucking modern day Robin Hood.
Akemi Homura - January 17, 2012
That cheats and commits fraud then lies about to get his ass off the line...
What version of Robin Hood were you watching? lol
Chin Check - January 17, 2012
He's off somewhere chaeling.
UncleMax - January 17, 2012
Hey Cyborg!
Gumby Doesn’t Approve
P86 - January 17, 2012
This might be my favorite gif ever.
MicahtheCynic - January 17, 2012
I have to agree
It’s pretty epic.
discoandherpes - January 17, 2012
It's a close call
It’s tough to choose between this and the Cody McKenzie “Shit just got real” gif.
DerSpiegel - January 17, 2012
I just like that they look genuinely shocked and scared.
NickRingp4pGOAT - January 17, 2012
I coulda sworn it was the Rampage/Rashad one you keep posting
The Lethal Haze - January 17, 2012
put her in with aldo!
That would be one heck of a fight!
Thorpey - January 17, 2012 via iPhone app
Then Dominick Cruz! Then Urijah Faber!
At the same time!
discoandherpes - January 17, 2012
yeah it would I believe she'd KO them in round one
She’s just insanely scarey roided or not lol I wouldn’t wish anyone in the same cage with her lol
Thorpey - January 17, 2012 via iPhone app
Okay now I'm getting the feeling you're actually being serious
discoandherpes - January 17, 2012
Then BROCKLESNAR!!!!!
MicahtheCynic - January 17, 2012
too soon
it still hurts….
HitokiriX - January 17, 2012
No Way Jose
I doubt she will make any headway without producing, from a shelf, whatever she allegedly took
CSAC is way too sharp to just play word games
What makes her case exactly like barnett & Silvia is that she was a champion
not some preliminary fighter
The Champs should absolutley be held to higher standards or at least the same standard as everyone else
kah - January 17, 2012
I'm joking lol
But seriously think she’d give em a good fight… She’s scarey as hell lol
Thorpey - January 17, 2012 via iPhone app
Cyborg doesn’t have very much technique, but is physically more powerful than a lot of her opponents. The problem is that when she stops having that advantage, she’ll lose to someone with more skill.
discoandherpes - January 17, 2012
They should double the suspension when they appeal for no good reason.
Shnak - January 17, 2012
$5 says she turns in a vial of stanozolol with a kool aid label taped onto it
“See? They tricked me!”
menckenstein - January 17, 2012
what kind of kool-aid is the real question
NEW-HAMPSHIRE - January 17, 2012
Red
Damon O. - January 17, 2012
What is Red?
There is tropical punch but there is no red
NEW-HAMPSHIRE - January 17, 2012
Red is red
menckenstein - January 17, 2012
I just don't know what you're talking about.
NEW-HAMPSHIRE - January 17, 2012
he couldnt afford kool aid...he got his sugar water from the gas station so..yes..Red
gxc - January 17, 2012
Incorrect
YOUR FACE
Damon O. - January 17, 2012
Would have also accepted
menckenstein - January 17, 2012
In all seriousness....
…I wonder what percentage of pro fighters have taken roids, TRT, GH etc. Listening to fighters who speak on the subject, that percentage has to be very high. These fighters put their bodies through a lot of punishment and I have to believe Cris isn’t in the minority.
Taiter - January 17, 2012
Id say anywhere from 50-75% of the current roster...
Which is truly a pity for the 25% that fight fair and clean.
Chin Check - January 17, 2012
I always assume like 80%. I’ve never heard anything in candid comments from fighters to make me think any different.
Hutchy - January 17, 2012 via mobile
75-80% is kind of what I had in my mind too
Taiter - January 17, 2012
leave Cyborg alone
he seems like a nice fella
biggant - January 17, 2012 via mobile
LMAO...
…well played.
Taiter - January 17, 2012
"Cris 'Cyborg' Santos Appealing Suspension, April 6 Hearing Likely"
This will be the first time in history Cyborg will be appealing to more than one man……
the-gentle-way - January 17, 2012 via mobile
Bravo, you beautiful bastard, bravo
menckenstein - January 17, 2012
there is only one thing cooler than someone enjoying my jokes...
And that’s Jonny Bravo
the-gentle-way - January 17, 2012 via mobile
Uncle Red - January 17, 2012
kansan - January 18, 2012
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