Chad Mendes claims that his anti-doping violation was caused by a skin cream he used to treat plaque psoriasis.
Speaking to CBS Sacramento, the UFC featherweight claimed that the growth hormone peptide that he tested positive for, GHRP-6, was an ingredient in the cream. The substance can stimulate growth hormone production when mixed with insulin.
The skin condition causes the skin to break out in red, itchy patches and the positive test earned Mendes a two-year ban from the UFC.
"I've always just accepted it and put it on, not thinking about anything," he said. "This is one of the cases that it had something in it that was on the USADA quote-unquote banned list.
"My situation was just kind of bad luck, I feel. Ultimately, I broke the rules. Did I use it? Of course. I didn't try going to USADA and making some BS story and tried to lie my way out of it."
The 31-year-old says he has suffered from plaque psoriasis, a skin condition marked by itchy red patches, since he was a child.
"One thing i want to clear up to a lot of people calling me ‘roid head or juice head: This isn't even a steroid. It's a peptide.
"Two years is a long time, especially in this sport,. Especially for a first-time offender. Especially over something that's not a steroid. I don't know. It's a tough situation.
"There's rules, they're set in place and I think USADA is doing a great job on that. I can't be the one to break a rule and be like, ‘Oh, I want special treatment.'"
Via MMA Fighting
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