Former world sprint champion Fred Kerley has made history by becoming the inaugural track athlete and the first American to sign up for the Enhanced Games, a sports event that does not conduct drug testing. Currently serving a suspension due to missed doping tests, Kerley is absent from the ongoing world championships in Tokyo. His legal team is actively working to challenge the whereabouts discrepancies that led to his ban.
At 30 years old, Kerley’s addition to the start-up league marks a significant milestone, following the recent signing of Paris Olympic silver medalist swimmer Ben Proud. In a statement released on the Enhanced Games platform, Kerley expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “This now gives me the opportunity to dedicate all my energy to pushing my limits and becoming the fastest human to ever live.”
Having secured victory in the 100 meters at the 2022 world championships and claiming silver in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Kerley boasts two Olympic medals, including a bronze from the closely contested 100-meter final in Paris last year.
The Enhanced Games, scheduled to premiere in Las Vegas next May, promises lucrative rewards with $500,000 USD up for grabs per event, with first place receiving $250,000. Additionally, a $1 million USD bonus awaits any athlete who breaks world records in the 100-meter sprint or the 50-meter freestyle swim.
Seb Coe, the president of World Athletics, acknowledged the news regarding Kerley but refrained from commenting further, citing ongoing championships. World Aquatics recently enacted a rule to disqualify athletes who participate in the Enhanced Games, leading to an $800 million lawsuit filed by the league against the federation and others for alleged attempts to coerce athletes into boycotting their competitions.
Expressing concerns about the well-being of Kerley and other athletes aligning with the Enhanced Games, Brett Clothier, the head of the Athletics Integrity Unit under World Athletics, emphasized the potential risks involved. He remarked, “It’s kind of grotesque, the athletes, the people who are being signed are being used.”
In a separate development, Kerley faced legal issues in Florida after being charged with assaulting a female hurdler, also an Olympic competitor. This incident followed an earlier arrest for allegedly assaulting a Miami Beach police officer on January 2, during which a Taser was deployed by the authorities. Kerley’s legal representatives maintain his innocence in both cases.