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The Hawaii State Boxing Commission is recommending the Finland Professional Boxing Federation reduce its two-year suspension given to a Hawaii fighter to six months.
Kuulei Kupihea was the first woman from Hawaii to fight for a world boxing professional title when she lost to defending World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus on a 10th-round technical knockout in Helsinki in December.
Two months later, the Hawaii commission said it was notified by the Finland federation she had tested positive for furosemide, a banned diuretic.
"She was devastated," her manager, Enrique Rodrigues, told the commission Tuesday.
Rodrigues said they were unaware the "water pill" was on a list of banned substances and had not sought an illegal edge.
He said they plan to appeal the severity of the suspension.
If the two-year ban stands, the Hawaii commission is not required to accept Finland’s suspension and could still choose to allow Kupihea to fight here before it expires.
Kupihea, 29, is 7-2 with two knockouts.