Three-time UFC title contender Chad Mendes was handed a two-year suspension from USADA on Wednesday after testing positive for a banned substance following an out-of-competition urine test on May 17.
According to USADA, Mendes tested positive for GHRP-6 (Growth Hormone-Releasing Hexapeptide), which is listed as a Non-Specified Substance on the WADA Prohibited list.
Under the UFC Anti-Doping policy, which has adopted the WADA Prohibited List, any violation involving a Non-Specified Substance warrants a two-year suspension for first-time offenders.
I didn't do my homework and that was a big mistake. I own it and I'm going to pay for it.
— chad mendes (@chadmendes) June 18, 2016
Mendes’ suspension will be backdated to June 10, 2016, the day he received a provisional suspension. He hasn’t fought since a knockout loss to Frankie Edgar in December 2015, so he won’t have to forfeit any wins or compensation. But he will lose his standing in the featherweight rankings.
“Money” (17-4-0) will be 33 when his suspension is lifted in 2018. The current No.4 ranked featherweight twice lost title fights to Jose Aldo, before losing an interim championship bout against Conor McGregor at UFC 189 in 2015.
