UFC featherweight star Chad Mendes has been suspended for two years by USADA after failing an out-of-competition drug test back in May.
USADA’s announcement finally revealed what substance the former multiple-time title challenger had tested positive for: GHRP-6, which promotes growth hormone production.
Mendes had released a statement regarding the test after being handed a provisional suspension in June in which he took responsibility for his actions.
“I didn’t do my homework and that was a big mistake,” Mendes stated on Twitter on June 18th. “I own it and I’m going to pay for it.”
The suspension marks the latest setback in a surprisingly unsettled period for the fighter, who held an overall 16-1 record heading into 2014, but has lost three of his last four fights in the years since, and suffered a first round KO loss to Frankie Edgar in his most recent bout back in December of 2015.
Mendes now faces two years out from the sport, by which stage he’ll be 33 years-old.
Ironically, for a man nicknamed ‘Money’, it’s likely that the Team Alpha Male product will be concerned with how he can make ends meet during that period.
That being said, if he’s been sensible with his savings then he should be better off than some of his counterparts would be in this situation given that he was given a bumper $500,000 payday for taking a short notice fight with Conor McGregor at UFC 189 last year (he normally earns $82,000 to show).
