The New Jersey-based sanctioning organization has, however, taken its 160-pound championship from besmirched middleweight Janibek Alimkhanuly. The Ring confirmed that the Kazakh southpaw’s manager, Egis Klimas, was informed of the IBF’s decision Tuesday in a letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Ring.

The IBF cited multiple violations of its rules for stripping Alimkhanuly, first and foremost for using a performance-enhancing drug. Alimkhanuly also can’t satisfy his mandatory obligation within the allotted time because he tested positive for Meldonium, a banned substance, in mid-November.

Failing that PED test previously cost Alimkhanuly (17-0, 12 KOs) his spot in a title unification fight against WBA champ Erislandy Lara, which was scheduled for December 6 in San Antonio. He wasn’t officially removed from the Lara bout until four days before they were supposed to square off on the Isaac Cruz-Lamont Roach undercard at Frost Bank Center.

The A and B samples Alimkhanuly submitted to the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, which administered testing for their fight, came back positive for a PED that can help boxers enhance endurance and shorten recovery time while training.

Alimkhanuly still holds the WBO belt, but the Puerto Rico-based governing body suspended him for a year late in February. That suspension is retroactive to December 2, the date his PED problem became public knowledge.

The WBO also ordered its No. 1 middleweight contender, Denzel Bentley, to face second-ranked Endry Saavedra for its interim title. England’s Bentley (21-3-1, 17 KOs) and Venezuela’s Saavedra (17-1-1, 14 KOs) are scheduled to fight April 4 on the Deontay Wilder-Derek Chisora undercard at O2 Arena in London.

Alimkhanuly, 32, has also been suspended by the Association of Boxing Commissions in the United States until June 1. Thirteen of Alimkhanuly’s 17 pro bouts have taken place in the U.S.

He was also suspended until May 31 by the Kazakhstan Federation of Professional Boxing. Three of Alimkhanuly’s other four professional fights have been held in his native country.

Alimkhanuly hasn’t boxed since he stopped Congolese contender Anauel Ngamissengue (15-1, 10 KOs) in the fifth round April 5 at Barys Arena in Astana, Kazakhstan.