Janibek Alimkhanuly vs. Erislandy Lara unification fight cancelled after late failed drug test

Unified middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly returned an adverse analytical finding for the banned substance meldonium in a Voluntary Anti-Doping Assocation (VADA) test conducted on Nov. 15.

Alimkhanuly, who held the WBO and IBF middleweight titles, was scheduled to face WBA champion Erislandy Lara in a three-belt unification bout on Saturday's Lamont Roach vs. Issac "Pitbull" Cruz co-feature, but the fight has now been cancelled.

The Kazakh responded to the news on social media:

"I have always supported clean sport you know this well. I was surprised when I read the news. VADA took the first test and said everything was clean. I have not made any changes to my vitamins. I don’t know what happened with the second test, so I requested a retest."

Alimkhanuly (17-0, 12 KOs) alluded to requesting a B-sample, which is almost always the same as the A-sample. If it is, he is expected to be stripped of both of his world championships. The WBO has already ordered their No. 1 and No. 2 contenders, Denzel Bentley and Endry Saavedra, to clash in a final eliminator, which will now likely be upgraded to a full title fight. In the IBF, Austin "Ammo" Williams is the mandatory and Etinosa Oliha is the next highest-rated contender.

Alimkhanuly stopped Danny Dignum to win the WBO interim title in May 2022 and was upgraded to full champion shortly after. He has since made five successful defenses of his belt, including a unification fight with then-IBF titlist Vincenzo Gualtieri. Alimkhanuly was last in action this past April, defeating Anauel Ngamissengue by TKO to retain his championship.

Lara hasn't fought since dominating Danny Garcia on the Saul "Canelo" Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga undercard in September 2024. It is currently unclear whether he will still compete on Saturday.