By MATT MOLGAARD
MMANEWS.COM Staff Writer

Dr. Johnny Benjamin serves as a medical columnist for mmajunkie.com, and he always delivers the cold hard truth when dishing on such topics as steroid use, and illegal antics utilized in our beloved sport. The good doc hit the record today to discuss Strikeforce women’s champion, Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos’ recently failed drug test, and as is traditionally the case, Johnny pulls no punches in assessing the situation.

The champion, who tested positive for the banned substance stanozolol, was recently fined $2,500 dollars, suspended for a year and stripped of her 145 pound title after failing a December 16th pre-fight drug screen. Her destructive first round stoppage of Hiroko Yamanaka at Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal", has officially been overturned and ruled a No Contest.

Check out what Benjamin had to say when pressed for his opinion on the matter:

“Did I know this question was coming? Thought it might. (That's a feeble attempt at humor).

In a prior article, I defended all athletes in general and Santos in particular against the diminution of their work ethic and sacrifice by those who chose to belittle them with unsupported accusations of performance-enhancing (commonly anabolic-steroid) drug use.

Just because you can't do what they do (or look like they look) is not proof that they cheat and use PEDs. It may provoke suspicions, but that is far from proof and shouldn't be used to malign and slander an elite athlete.

Now, to answer the question as honestly and directly as I can.

While this is just my personal opinion, I have a hard time believing that this is the first time that the now-ex-Strikeforce champ has used performance-enhancing drugs. I do not believe for one moment that she didn't know what she was doing was prohibited (illegal in competition). She might not have personally thought it was wrong, but who cares what she thinks? Participants don't get to interpret the rules in order to serve their immediate interests.

I believe her explanation of using a dietary supplement that unbeknownst to her contained the banned substance stanozolol (an anabolic steroid commonly known as Winstrol) is ludicrous.