Chad Mendes Given Two-Year Suspension For Banned Substance Use

Chad Mendes will have to sit and
watch as the UFC’s featherweight
division sorts itself out.
Mendes, a former title contender, was
given a two-year suspension due to
the use of a banned substance on
Wednesday. The Team Alpha Male
fighter can compete again in June
2018, according to a release by the
USADA.
The USADA performed an out-of-
competition test on Mendes (17-4) in
May, which found the growth-
hormone releasing peptide GHRP-17 in
his system. The California native last
fought in late 2016, losing to Frankie
Edgar via knockout.
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.
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.
USADA conducts the year-round,
independent anti-doping program
for all UFC athletes. USADA is an
independent, non-profit, non-
governmental agency whose sole
mission is to preserve the
integrity of competition, inspire
true sport, and protect the rights
of clean athletes. The anti-
doping program run by USADA for
UFC athletes includes education,
science and research, testing, and
results management. Official UFC
Anti-Doping Program information
and athlete resources are
available at UFC.USADA.org.