BREAKING: Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos Tests Positive for Steroids

The California State Athletic Commission has released some very disappointing news in the wake of Cristiane Santos' latest title defense. The statement:

CALIFORNIA STATE ATHLETIC COMMISSION SUSPENDS LICENSE OF FIGHTER CRISTIANE JUSTINO SANTOS - a.k.a. CRIS CYBORG

Mixed Martial Arts fighter tested positive for anabolic steroid in December 16, 2011 test

The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) has suspended the license of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Cristiane Justino Santos, better known in MMA circles as Cris Cyborg, and has fined her $2,500 as the result of a positive test for a banned substance.

Santos' December 16, 2011 drug test came back positive for stanozolol metabolites. CSAC learned of the test results December 23, 2011 and suspended Santos's license, with the suspension applied retroactively to December 16, 2011. In accordance with Rule 368, the result of her last fight between Hiroko Yamanaka will be changed to a "No Decision".

"Our primary concern is for the health and safety of fighters," said CSAC Executive Officer George Dodd. "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."

The use of certain substances, including anabolic steroids, is prohibited under the Commission's regulations, and CSAC has among the toughest drug testing standards of any Athletic Commission in the country. It is the only commission that requires urine samples to be taken in the presence of a commission representative prior to a bout.

Santos's provision of a urine sample was observed by a CSAC representative and the sample was sent to the World Anti-doping Agency test facility at the University of California, Los Angeles. Santos has the right to appeal the suspension of her license.

I can't help but think that this is a death knell for Strikeforce's women's featherweight division. The field is, in general, extremely thin, and the organization has from the start had a difficult time finding contenders for Santos (and Gina Carano before her). I can't imagine that Strikeforce will be eager to continue building a weight class around Santos if they can't depend on her.

This also puts Ronda Rousey's title shot in an interesting light. It would seem that Strikeforce matchmakers were well aware of Santos' coming suspension and matched Rousey up accordingly.