Alimkhanuly fails drugs test before scheduled Lara fight

Before his scheduled Saturday middleweight unification bout against Erislandy Lara, Janibek Alimkhanuly tested positive for a banned substance.

The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (Vada) has informed the World Boxing Organization (WBO) that a Kazakh fighter failed their test, and an internal investigation is ongoing.

According to American media, Venezuelan Johan Gonzalez will take Alimkhanuly’s place in the fight against WBA champion Lara, who holds both the IBF and WBO titles.

Melonium, a performance-enhancing drug that can increase an athlete’s endurance, is reported to be the banned substance. The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) has banned it since 2016 and has issued a ban.

The fighter has requested that a second “B” sample be tested because Alimkhanuly’s “A” sample returned a negative analytical finding.

Alimkhanuly claimed in a letter to X that Vada’s findings surprised him.

You are well aware of how strongly I have always backed clean sport. When I read the news, I was taken aback,” Alimkhanuly said.

“Vada took the initial test, and he declared everything to be spotless. My vitamins are the same as they were before. I requested a retest because I don’t know what happened with the second test.

Alimkhanuly last met on April 5th, when he won the WBO and IBF titles to defeat Anauel Ngamissengue in a fifth-round stoppage.

Since making his professional debut in 2016, the 32-year-old has won all 17 of his matches.

Cuban-American Lara stopped Danny Garcia in the ninth round to retain his WBA title, which he had lost to him 14 months ago.

The 42-year-old, who was formerly the lightweight champion, has won 31 of his 37 fights since making his debut in 2008.