Zhanibek Alimkhanuly’s IBF Title Vacated
Zhanibek Alimkhanuly won the IBF Middleweight title on October 14, 2023. His most recent defense of the title was on April 5, 2025, when he unified the IBF and WBO Middleweight titles in a bout against Anauel Ngamissengue in Astana, Kazakhstan.
On December 2, 2025, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) notified the IBF of an adverse analytical finding for Meldonium in Alimkhanuly’s ‘A’ sample, collected on November 15, 2025. VADA later confirmed the presence of Meldonium in the athlete’s ‘B’ sample on January 9, 2026. Under IBF Rule 18, which incorporates the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List, the detection of any banned substance constitutes a violation of IBF regulations.
Following the initial finding, the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (ABC) imposed an indefinite suspension on Alimkhanuly on December 4, 2025, later formalizing the suspension through June 1, 2026.
The Kazakhstan Professional Boxing Federation (KPBF), which licenses Alimkhanuly, conducted a disciplinary hearing on January 19, 2026. The KPBF concluded that the substance was ingested during a medically justified emergency treatment, determined there was no intent to seek a competitive advantage, and ruled the degree of fault was minimal. The KPBF subsequently imposed a suspension through May 31, 2026, effective December 2, 2025.
Nevertheless, IBF Rule 18 mandates that any boxer suspended by a commission recognized by the IBF is ineligible to be ranked or to compete in any IBF sanctioned bout for one year following the start of such suspension. Because Alimkhanuly’s suspension was effective December 2, 2025, his IBF ineligibility will extend to December 2, 2026.
As a result, Alimkhanuly will be unable to satisfy his mandatory title defense obligation, due on or before July 4, 2026. After reviewing the matter during a March 5, 2026 teleconference, the IBF Board of Directors unanimously voted to vacate the IBF Middleweight Title effective immediately.
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