By Lem Satterfield
The verdict is in. The Nevada State Athletic Commission has handed down their punishment on lightweight Ali Funeka for testing positive for a banned diuretic following a March, 12-round, split-decision loss to Joan Guzman.
Funeka received a nine month suspension, a $35,000 fine, and he has to return the amount of $15,625 that he received for making weight, after Guzman failed to make the lightweight limit by nine pounds [144]. Funeka made $105,000 for the fight.
"I feel terrible for him, but if you break the rules, you break the rules -- even though you do so unknowingly," said Funeka's promoter, Gary Shaw. "Now he's in position to have to return a lot of the money that he made, which adds up to the amount of about a third of his purse."
Lem Satterfield is the boxing editor at AOL FanHouse and the news editor at BoxingScene.com. To read more from Lem Satterfield, go to AOL FanHouse by Clicking Here.
