by David P. Greisman

Undefeated super middleweight Eduardo Alicea was suspended for six months and had his last win overturned after testing positive for a banned diuretic.

He was also fined 20 percent of his $2,000 purse following a 4-1 vote of the Nevada Athletic Commission. Pat Lundvall was the lone commissioner voting in opposition, as she sought a harsher penalty due to Alicea’s not telling the truth on a form he filled out prior to the fight.

That fight was on Aug. 8 and saw Alicea score a second-round stoppage of Kirk Huff. With that victory becoming a no contest, Alicea is once again 7-0 with 3 KOs. The suspension dates back to the time of the fight and so would expire in February. He’ll need to provide the commission with a clean drug test before being licensed to fight in the state again.

Alicea had tested positive for furosemide. At Monday’s hearing, the 24-year-old and his attorney, former fighter Joey Gilbert, admitted wrongdoing.

“I only knew that it was something to help me lose weight,” Alicea said. “I didn’t realize that it was a banned substance but I got to take full responsibility. I own up to it.”

Alicea said the fight was at 165 pounds, that he was 175 pounds with two weeks to go, 170 a week before and 165 the morning of the weigh-in. He said he took the pill, provided by a friend named Melissa who has access to the prescription medication, two days before the bout.

Reports from the time show Alicea as coming in at 167.4 pounds, while Huff came in at 162.4.

He admitted to not telling the truth on the commission form.

“I read it but I didn’t think anything of it at the time,” Alicea said. “I just wanted to get the weigh-ins over with.”

“I believe I’ve got God-given talent to fight,” he said later. “I really want to take my talents further in the sport. If I have to do it the old-fashioned way of do the weight the right way, I will. I apologize to you guys. It’s an embarrassment to me.”

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