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It has been a rough year for American sprinter Fred Kerley. He has been arrested twice to do with violence and has now been suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU). Kerley has missed at least three doping tests in 12 months. Doing so is equal to testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs PEDs).
Kerley’s lawyer replied on social media with the following statement: “Fred Kerley has already notified the AIU that he intends to contest the allegation that he has violated the anti-doping rules related to whereabouts failures.”
Bodycam footage of Kerley’s arrest in January
The appeal of the provisional suspension is related to the doping control officer not making sufficient efforts to meet Mr. Kerley.
“Under reasonable circumstances.”
Kerley then appealed to the public, writing in metaphor, “You can try to break me in the storm, but all you’re doing is giving me a better story at the finish line.”
On January 4, 2025, it was reported that Kerley was arrested for the second time in a year. He faced charges of battery, resisting a police officer and breach of the peace following the incident in Miami.
In May 2024, Miami-Dade police were called to his home after an argument between him and his then-wife of more than 10 years. The fight escalated into what could have been in a “life-and-death situation,” according to authorities.
Kerley was arrested for allegedly punching his former girlfriend, Alaysha Johnson, in the face. She is also an athlete and was scheduled to compete in the Grand Slam Track Meet.
Johnson told deputies that she ran into Kerley at the hotel and the two began arguing. She said that Kerley was aggressive. He shouted, “I’m going to f— everyone in here up,” according to a Broward Sheriff’s Office report.
The two-time Olympic medallist admitted that there was an altercation. However, claimed that the arrest was made due to a misunderstanding.
The 30-year-old was suspended by Grand Slam Track following the battery charge. Grand Slam Track confirmed that Kerley was suspended and would not be competing at the league’s meet in Philadelphia.
His lawyers also said that he was innocent of those charges.
Kerley has run the 100 metre sprint as fast as 9.76. He is an Olympic silver and bronze medallist from Tokyo and Paris, respectively. He has been running well during 2025 over the 100, 200, 400 and 4 x 100 metre events.
