Janibek Alimkhanuly has been stripped of his IBF middleweight title following a doping violation that will prevent him from competing in IBF-sanctioned bouts for a year.
According to the IBF Championships Committee, Alimkhanuly’s suspension means he cannot fulfill his mandatory title defense scheduled for July 4, 2026. As a result, the organization’s board voted to immediately vacate the middleweight belt. The decision stems from a suspension imposed by the Kazakhstan Professional Boxing Federation, which took effect on December 2, 2025.
Alimkhanuly was pulled from a planned unification fight with WBA champion Erislandy Lara after testing positive for Meldonium. The KPBF later issued a backdated six-month suspension running through June 2, 2026, and the Association of Boxing Commissions subsequently set a similar deadline for his ineligibility.
The investigation concluded that the substance entered his system during emergency medical treatment in May after he experienced severe health symptoms including headaches, dizziness, and vision problems. Doctors reportedly treated him with several medications, including Ripronat, a product containing Meldonium that is legal in Kazakhstan.
An eight-person panel determined that Alimkhanuly’s level of negligence was minimal, leading to the shorter suspension. However, IBF rules prohibit him from being ranked or competing in IBF-sanctioned bouts for one year following the violation, making it impossible for him to defend the title.
Alimkhanuly will return to the sport with only the WBO middleweight title once his suspension ends, and he will be required to undergo continued drug testing before being reinstated. Meanwhile, the IBF is expected to order a fight for the vacant belt, with contenders Etinosa Oliha and Shakiel Thompson among the leading candidates to compete for the title.
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