UFC's Chad Mendes suspended two years by USADA for failed PED test

The hammer has come down swift and heavy for UFC featherweight contender Chad Mendes. USADA announced that the Team Alpha Male fighter has been suspended for two years after testing positive for a banned substance.

The positive result came from an out-of-competition urine test on May 17. The test found GHRP-6 (Growth Hormone-Releasing Hexapeptide) in his system.

Mendes has long been one of the top 145-pound fighters in the UFC despite a recent slide when he was knocked out in back-to-back fights against Frankie Edgar and Conor McGregor. He hasn’t fought since losing to Edgar last December.

The 31-year-old will be sidelined until June 10, 2018, two years after the date the provisional suspension began.

This comes hot on the heels of Jon Jones and Brock Lesnar being flagged by USADA for banned substances. Both Jones and Lesnar are waiting to see what disciplinary action will be handed down from USADA.