A day after news first broke that Strikeforce woman’s 145lb champion Cris ‘Cyborg’ Santos had been suspended after testing positive for steroids prior to her last fight in December, the fighter herself has issued a statement offering an apology and explaining her side of the story.
Read the statement in full below courtesy of MMAPrime.TV.
“I am ultimately responsible for everything I put in my body, and at the end of the day, there is no excuse for having a prohibited substance in my system. I do not condone the use of any performance enhancing drugs by myself or any other professional athlete, and willingly accept the penalties and fines that have been handed down to me by the California State Athletic Commission and those of the StrikeForce/Zuffa organization.”
“While I was preparing myself for my last fight I was having a difficult time cutting weight and used a dietary supplement that I was assured was safe and not prohibited from use in sports competition. It was never my intention to obtain an unfair advantage over Hiroko, mislead StrikeForce, the Commission or my fans. I train harder than any fighter in MMA and do not need drugs to win in the cage, and I have proven this time and time again! My only mistake is not verifying the diet aid with my doctor beforehand, and understanding that it was not approved for use in the ring.”
“Unfortunately in the end I suffer the consequences and must accept the responsibility for my actions.”
“I will do everything I can to show my fans that I can still compete at the professional level without the use of any prohibited substances, and ask God’s forgiveness for my mistake.“
As a result of her failed drug test Santos will now serve a one year suspension, has been fined $2,500 and has been stripped of her 145lb title.
