On the heels of receiving sanctioning body-issued disciplinary action, Janibek Alimkhanuly was dealt an actual suspension by a presiding commission.
BoxingScene has confirmed that the Kazakhstan Professional Boxing Federation (KPBF) has issued a six-month suspension to the unbeaten IBF/WBO middleweight titlist. The punishment is retroactive from last December 2, the point at which it was learned that Alimkhanuly tested positive for the banned substance Meldonium.
The positive drug test – as discovered from random drug testing contracted through VADA – resulted in Alimkhanuly being pulled from a December 6 three-belt 160lbs unification bout with WBA titlist Erislandy Lara in San Antonio, Texas. He has remained on indefinite suspension by the Association of Boxing Commissions, and was recently issued a one-year ban from participating in any WBO-sanctioned bouts but permitted to keep his title.
Because Alimkhanuly last fought in Kazakhstan – a knockout win over unbeaten Anauel Ngamissengue last April 5 in Astana – the local commission took control of the investigation.
According to the final report – a copy which was obtained by BoxingScene - the KPBF determined that Alimkhanuly, 17-0 (12 KOs) ingested the substance in question from an emergency medical visit last May 7. Alimkhanuly reportedly suffered deteriorated health, at which point his “relatives sought immediate medical assistance at the Adam Clinic” in his Almaty hometown.
“The clinic’s official medical report documents the following: acute severe headache, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, transient bilateral visual disturbance, limb numbness [and] chest pressure.”
The final diagnosis was that Alimkhanuly suffered a transit ischemic attack (TIA) from a vertebrobasilar insufficiency. His condition was described as in need of urgent therapeutic intervention, which came with an assortment of prescribed medication.
Among the administered substances was Ripronat, which is legal in Kazakhstan but contains Meldonium. “The medical intervention, including the administration of Ripronat (Meldonium), was medically necessary, urgent, and professionally justified,” read the KPBF report. “The medical documentation submitted to the Commission is legitimate, complete, and verifiable through the national medical registry.
“[Alimkhanuly] stated that the brand name Ripronat did not lead him to associate the product with the prohibited substance Meldonium, which is commonly known internationally through other trademark names (e.g., “Mildronate”).”
It was this statement which prompted the eight-person commission panel to unanimously rule that Alimkhanuly was “found negligent to a minimal degree and is… [suspended] from professional boxing for six (6) months, effective from the date of provisional suspension (December 2, 2025).”
The ruling means Alimkhanuly cannot fight until June 2 at the earliest. He is also required to undergo random testing – at his own expense – and produce clean samples in order to resume his career.
For now, he will remain the WBO 160lbs titlist despite not being permitted to defend the belt until December 2, 2026.
BoxingScene has learned that IBF officials have received all pertinent information from the KPBF and are still reviewing the matter in full. It remains unclear when the New Jersey-headquartered sanctioning body will make a final ruling.
For now, the WBO has approved an interim title fight between Denzel Bentley and Endry Saveedra. The bout will take place as part of the April 4 Deontay Wilder-Derek Chisora DAZN pay-per-view event in London.
Per the WBO ruling, Alimkhanuly is required to face the winner in an immediate title consolidation bout upon his ring return. No exceptions will be granted.
The usage of interim titles is used conservatively by the WBO and even more so by the IBF. The latter has left its top two contenders – Etinosa Oliha and Shakiel Thompson – in limbo.
It was rumored weeks ago that the two would fight for the vacant title, but so far there is not any substance to those claims.
Alimkhanuly first claimed the interim version of the WBO 160lbs title in May 2022. He was upgraded to full titlist later that year and has made five successful defenses.
Three have come with the IBF belt at stake, which he won in an October 2023 knockout over then-unbeaten titleholder Vincenzo Gualtieri.
