IBF Strips Janibek Over Failed VADA Test

The IBF has removed Janibek Alimkhanuly as middleweight champion following a doping violation involving meldonium last year.

The downfall began in November 2025 during the lead-up to the unification bout against Erislandy Lara. Testing conducted by VADA flagged Alimkhanuly’s A-sample for the prohibited metabolic modulator. Upon further investigation, the B-sample confirmed the initial findings, leaving the IBF with little choice but to enforce their strict liability protocols.

The governing body has handed down a 12-month suspension, which is being applied retroactively to December 2, 2025. Because this ban effectively freezes Alimkhanuly out of the ring until the final month of 2026, he is physically and legally unable to meet his mandatory title defense obligations, which were scheduled for this coming July. Rather than allow the belt to remain inactive for a full year, the IBF has opted to strip him of the title immediately to allow the 160-pound division to move forward.

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IBF

“Alimkhanuly is due to make a Mandatory defense of his IBF Middleweight title on or before July 4, 2026. The IBF must notify Zhanibek Alimkhanuly of his Mandatory defense on or around May 4, 2026. The penalties imposed by Rule 18. prohibit Alimkhanuly from being ranked by the IBF or “participat[ing] in any IBF sanctioned bout” [emphasis added] for one (1) year following his suspension for an anti-doping violation.

“Alimkhanuly’s suspension by the KPBF is effective as of December 2, 2025, and the resulting one-year period of ineligibility therefore expires on December 2, 2026. Accordingly, Alimkhanuly is unable to fulfill his Mandatory defense obligation on July 4, 2026. On March 5, 2026, the IBF Board of Directors participated in a teleconference to discuss this matter. A majority of the Directors determined that, in light of the foregoing, the IBF Middleweight title should be vacated immediately,” George Martinez (IBF Championships Committee chairman)

What’s Next?

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With the belt now up for grabs, the middleweight landscape is wide open. Here are the most likely scenarios for the IBF title:

• Denis Radovan vs. Hamzah Sheeraz: As top-rated contenders in the IBF rankings, these two could be ordered to fight for the vacant strap.
• Since the original unification was scrapped, the IBF might look to pair the highest available contender with the WBA champion (Lara) if a deal can be struck for an immediate vacant title bout.

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