Chad Mendes Receives 2-Year Suspension From USADA for Positive PED Test

Former UFC featherweight title challenger Chad Mendes has received a two-year suspension from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency after testing positive for a performance enhancing drug.

According to a statement on the USADA website, Mendes tested positive for GHRP-6 (Growth Hormone-Releasing Hexapeptide) in an out-of-competition urine test conducted on May 17. GHRP-6 is known to stimulate growth hormone release and can aid fat loss and muscle gain.

Mendes will not be eligible to return to UFC competition until June 10, 2018, two years from the date he received a provisional suspension. The Team Alpha Male product took to Twitter briefly after the initial anti-doping violation was announced to acknowledge the failed test.

“I didn’t do my homework and that was a big mistake,” Mendes wrote. “I own it and I’m going to pay for it.”

The 31-year-old has last three of his last four fights in the Octagon, the first extended slump of his 21-fight career. Most recently, “Money” suffered a first-round knockout loss to Frankie Edgar at “The Ultimate Fighter 22” finale this past December.