You won't be seeing Chad Mendes fight in the UFC until 2018
The three-time featherweight title challenger has been suspended for two years by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after he tested positive for GHRP-6 during an out-of-competition test on May 17.
GHRP-6 is known as growth-hormone replacing hexapeptide. According to freelance writer Iain Kidd, there are differences in GHRP-6 and HGH, which is commonly being thrown around as the substance in question.
GHRP-6 is like clomiphene - designed to improve your body's natural production. hGH is like steroids or testosterone - exogenous increase.
— Iain Kidd (@iainkidd) July 20, 2016
Reminder: hGH is NOT the same thing as GHRP-6. GHRP-6 is designed to increase growth hormone production. hGH is synthetic growth hormone.
— Iain Kidd (@iainkidd) July 20, 2016
The 31-year old Mendes (17-4) has been suspended until June 10, 2018, which is two years from when his provisional suspension began.
Mendes doesn't have a victory since April 2015, and only one win since 2014 began, but has faced the likes of Frankie Edgar, Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor along the way. Mendes started his career at 16-1 before this latest skid.
On June 19 Mendes commented on the matter on Twitter, saying "I didn't do my homework and that was a big mistake. I own it and I'm going to pay for it."
By Sean Ross Sapp
