Yet another UFC fighter has figured in a doping controversy after Jon "Bones" Jones and Brock Lesnar failed drug tests over the past two weeks. Featherweight contender Chad Mendes of California received a two-year suspension after testing positive for a banned substance.
According to the official statement released by the USADA, the 31-year old Mendes was tested out-of-competition and the results came back positive for GHRP-6, which is a growth hormone releasing peptide that is designed to escalate the body's natural production of growth hormone. Mendes acknowledged the positive test on his Twitter account and called it a "big mistake" but said that he will take responsibility for it.
However, a source close to Mendes said that he did not take the banned substance knowingly. In a report by BloodyElbow.com, the anonymous source stated that Mendes used a cream in order to treat a skin condition, without knowing that GHRP-6 was incorporated into it. Mendes seemed to have realized it after the test came back positive, by tweeting "I didn't do my homework."
Jones had been provisionally suspended by the UFC after estrogen blockers were found in his system three days prior to the company's landmark event UFC 200. He was eventually replaced by Anderson Silva. The mixed-martial arts company is waiting for the USADA for the confirmation of Jones' lab results.
Lesnar fought at UFC 200 and won, beating heavyweight contender Mark Hunt. A few days later, news spread that he had failed two drug tests taken after the fight. He has not yet been sanctioned. Both Jones and Lesnar appealed their violations while Mendes looks to accept his punishment, saying via Twitter that he will "own it."
Mendes' urine sample was collected by USADA last May 17. The suspension took effect provisionally last June 10, and he will be allowed to return to active competition on June 10, 2018. The currently fourth-ranked Mendes has a win-loss record of 17-4. He was involved in three title fights for the featherweight championship in two years, losing twice to then-champion Jose Aldo, Jr. and once to Conor McGregor in the UFC 189 main event.
Here are some highlights of Mendes in training and in the octagon.