The 32-year-old Kazakh tested positive for the banned substance meldonium in a test carried out by VADA late last year.

The adverse finding led to the cancellation of his scheduled unification clash with WBA champion Erislandy Lara on December 12 while Janibek was also dropped from The Ring's middleweight rankings.

He was subsequently hit with a one-year suspension by the WBO, which was back-dated to December 2, but he was allowed to retain his position as champion. The IBF also allowed Janibek (17-0, 12 KOs) to keep his belt.

But now the WBO's No. 1 contender Bentley (21-3, 17 KOs) has insisted that the southpaw should lose his title as part of the punishment.

"I think he should be stripped if he’s going to serve a suspension," Bentley said at a media roundtable Wednesday. 

"When his suspension is done, he can get the first shot at whoever the new champion is.

"It's one of those situations where they've got someone doping, but they still don't really know what to do with it. It's something to do with whoever he's licenced with have to find him guilty before the WBO can actually take action and strip him."

Bentley has not boxed since December 2024 when he outpointed Brad Pauls at Wembley Arena and has been patiently waiting for his second shot at Janibek, who he took the distance in November 2022.

Instead he will face Endry Saavedra (17-1-1, 14 KOs) at London's o2 Arena on April 4 for the WBO's interim title before attempting to secure a crack at the full belt once Janibek is allowed to box again.

Bentley added: "It is what it is. The WBO have tried their best to make everything work out and wait for the interim title and, God willing, I get my hands on that. After that, we'll see where we can go. 



"As much as I appreciate what the WBO have done, allowing me to box for the interim, I feel like I'm still being punished for what Janibek has done.



"Winning the interim title would mean a lot. It means I'm right there but the job's not done. I’ve still got that one more step, one more hurdle. It's just annoying that I've got to wait until his suspension is done to get my world title shot.

"I can't fight the champion in my next fight. I've still got to wait for December until his ban is done and then he's going to have to have a camp so I could be fighting him next year in April. Who knows?

"In my next fight I'll be defending the interim and still not getting a shot at the world title until he's served his ban and we move on."

For now Bentley is fully focused on Saavedra, who sits one place below him in the WBO rankings, and knows winning the interim title could open the door to elevation to full champion status in the event that Janibek does lose his title.

Bentley said: "I don't mind being email champion. That's all right, man. You know, I've waited this long. I couldn't mind that."