Zhanibek Alimkhanuly’s middleweight title reign has been suspended due to a doping ban, removing him from the competition and forcing the WBO to reschedule his title. The WBO confirmed on Friday that it has suspended Alimkhanuly for one year after a positive test for meldonium, a drug, in November 2025.
The president of the WBO, Gustavo Olivieri, said that the World Championship Committee of the organization agreed to the stoppage, which will start again on December 2, 2025. That date coincides with the cancellation of the fight of Alimkhanuly planned against Erislandy Lara, which was expected to clarify the position of the champion in the division.
The positive test was confirmed by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, which conducts drug testing for many of boxing’s major sports. Meldonium is banned under anti-doping laws and has resulted in suspension in many combat sports.
The suspension prevents Alimkhanuly from participating in any fights or exhibitions during the period of the suspension. As a result, the WBO has moved to preserve action in the division by ordering an interim fight between its rivals. Denzel Bentley, the organization’s number 1, will face number 2 Endry Saavedra for the interim WBO middleweight title.
The WBO also confirmed that Alimkhanuly will be required to fight the interim title as soon as his suspension ends in December 2026. He will not be allowed to fight again without risking further sanctions under WBO regulations.
Alimkhanuly built his status as one of the division’s most prominent champions before his suspension. His planned unification bout with Lara represented an opportunity to solidify his hold on the division’s championship structure. Instead, the failure of the test and the resulting suspension has hampered his championship and opened a way for other competitors to gain the opportunity while he remains inactive.
The suspension quickly changes the direction of the middleweight division. With the title and interim champions now in play, the division’s title picture will move forward without Alimkhanuly until he regains eligibility at the end of 2026.
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Last updated on 02/20/2026