USADA have released a statement confirming that the violation of anti-doping procedures by former world championship challenger Chad Mendes has warranted a two-year ban.

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The UFC’s drug testing affiliates today deliberated on the case of Chad Mendes, who was originally flagged for a failed drug test on June 10.

The violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection from ‘Money’ Mendes, who last fought in December of 2015, has seen the 31-year-old slapped with a two-year ban from competition.

Via USADA:

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.

Though it comes as scant consolation for the Team Alpha Male member, his ban has been retroactively dated back to the original June date, meaning that Mendes will be out of action until at least June of 2018.

UFC's Chad Mendes has been suspended two years by USADA for testing positive for GHRP-6 growth hormone. Dates retroactively to June 10. — Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) July 20, 2016

The three-time championship title challenger joins Jon Jones and Brock Lesnar on the inactivity list due to USADA violations.

USADA controls the anti-doping programs for U.S. Olympic athletes, among other competitions. The UFC announced their partnership with the organisation in an effort to clean their section of the sport on June 3, 2015, and the UFC Anti-Doping Program went into effect on July 1, 2015.

I didn't do my homework and that was a big mistake. I own it and I'm going to pay for it. — chad mendes (@chadmendes) June 18, 2016

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