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Chad Mendes suspended 2 years by USADA following failed drug test in May

Former UFC featherweight title challenger Chad Mendes has received a two year suspension from USADA for a failed out-of-competition drug test that he submitted earlier this year.

The suspension of Mendes was announced by USADA in a press release and confirmed that Mendes tested positive for GHRP-6 (Growth Hormone-Releasing Hexapeptide).

“USADA announced today that UFC athlete Chad Mendes, of Sacramento, Calif., has received a two-year sanction for an anti-doping policy violation after testing positive for a prohibited substance,” the USADA press release stated. “Mendes, 31, tested positive for GHRP-6 (Growth Hormone-Releasing Hexapeptide) following an out-of-competition urine test conducted on May 17, 2016. GHRP-6 is a prohibited substance in the class of Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List.

“Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptides are listed as Non-Specified Substances on the WADA Prohibited List. Under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, the standard sanction for an anti-doping policy violation involving a Non-Specified Substance is a two-year period of ineligibility. Mendes’ two-year period of ineligibility began on June 10, 2016, the date on which he received a provisional suspension. In addition, Mendes has been disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and subsequent to May 17, 2016, the date of sample collection, including forfeiture of any title, ranking, purse or other compensation.”

Mendes (17-4) has dropped his last two fights and is 1-3 in his last four fights. His last fight came at the end of last year at The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale and was defeated by Frankie Edgar in the first round by knockout.