Zhanat Zhakiyanov‘s management team have lodged a formal complaint with the World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) due to Ryan Burnett‘s non-compliance with drug testing procedures last month.

Belfast bantamweight Burnett unified the IBF and WBA belts following a gruelling fight with the Kazakh at the SSE Odyssey Arena.

The Antrim Road 25 year old won on a unanimous decision, with scores of 119-109, 118-110, and 116-112, after an intensely physical fight in what was the first ever unification fight to take place in Ireland.

In the immediate aftermath of the fight Burnett complained of headaches and was brought immediately to hospital.

The 2010 Youth Olympic gold medalist was released hours later with the all-clear, with his symptoms being attributed to an apparent ruptured ligament in his neck suffered at the start of the sixth round.

As Burnett was brought to hospital just minutes after the final bell, the Ulster fighter was physically unable to undertake a mandatory post-fight drug test at the fight venue.

Zhakiyanov’s manager Philip Fondu is now seeking clarification and revealed to World Boxing News that “we have filed a complaint with the IBF and WBA over the fact Ryan Burnett missed the mandatory drug tests.”

“A ruling is due soon as we would like to know why these procedures were not undertaken.”

Burnett’s trainer and manager Adam Booth told IFL TV that “I heard that they put in an appeal because the dope testing agency didn’t take samples from Ryan – but that was the dope-testing agency and the boxing board of control’s etiquette.”

“The fact is, that if a boxer medically needs to be attended to, that that takes precedence over everything else.”

Burnett [18(9)-0] is currently recovering following the big win less than two weeks ago and is not expected to return to the ring until, at least, next March.