The International Boxing Federation (IBF) decided to strip Kazakh middleweight Zhanibek Alimkhanuly of the world champion title in their version. An official notification about this was sent to his manager Egis Klimas on Tuesday.
The main reason for this step was multiple violations of the organization's rules. The primary factor cited was the use of a banned substance—meldonium, which was found in the athlete's doping tests back in November last year.
The positive result was confirmed in the second sample "B" as well. As a result, Alimkhanuly received a one-year disqualification, which is in effect until December this year.
Let's recall, that it was precisely because of the same doping scandal that the long-awaited fight for the unification of titles with Cuban Erislandy Lara, which was supposed to take place in December last year, was disrupted. The fight was canceled just days before the event.
It should be added that Zhanibek continues to hold the WBO version of the championship title.
