Track and Field: Suspension of Double Olympic 100m Medalist and 2022 World Champion Fred Kerley due to provisional doping violation
Fred Kerley, the American sprinter and double Olympic medalist, is currently provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) due to "whereabouts failures." This means that Kerley allegedly missed three anti-doping tests or failed to file required whereabouts information within a 12-month period—violations subject to suspensions ranging from one to two years.
Kerley, aged 30, has built an impressive career in the 100m, having won the world title in 2022 and a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics last summer. He started his career as a 400m specialist but has since transitioned to sprinting in the 100m.
The suspension, which temporarily bars Kerley from competition, comes at a challenging time for the athlete. Kerley has also faced legal issues this year, unrelated to doping. In January, he was arrested in Miami following a heated altercation with the police, and he was accused and charged with domestic violence against the mother of his children. Kerley has pleaded not guilty in both cases.
Kerley withdrew from the U.S. trials two weeks ago and was unable to qualify for the World Championships in Tokyo (13-21 September). The suspension is due to Kerley's "failures to comply with out-of-competition testing obligations."
Kerley and his legal team have announced their intention to contest the suspension, arguing that at least one of the missed tests should be dismissed because he was not negligent or the Doping Control Officer did not take reasonable steps to locate him at the designated location. Kerley has refrained from further public comment out of respect for the process and will present his case before a hearing panel.
The AIU has not disclosed the specific dates of the alleged missed tests, but the violation likely occurred over several months based on the requirement of three missed tests within a 12-month window. This suspension adds to a tumultuous year for Kerley, who won the silver medal in the 100m at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
The statement was made by the law firm Howard L. Jacobs, which specializes in anti-doping cases. The firm has represented several high-profile athletes in the past, including Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay.
It is worth noting that elite athletes are subject to strict whereabouts obligations, including declaring a one-hour time slot and location each day for out-of-competition testing. Three failures to comply with these obligations within a one-year period can result in a sanction.
This provisional suspension means Kerley is temporarily barred from competition until the AIU hearing resolves the case. The outcome of the hearing will determine whether Kerley's suspension will be upheld, reduced, or lifted entirely.
[1] Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) Statement on Fred Kerley Suspension [2] Howard L. Jacobs Statement on Fred Kerley's Suspension [3] Fred Kerley's Legal Team's Response to Provisional Suspension [4] Miami Police Department Report on Fred Kerley's Arrest
Despite his legal issues, including an arrest in Miami related to a domestic violence charge, Fred Kerley's sports career has taken another turn, as he is currently provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) due to "failures to comply with out-of-competition testing obligations." The suspension, which temporarily bars him from competition, comes from missing three anti-doping tests or failing to file required whereabouts information within a 12-month period. Kerley's legal team has announced their intention to contest the suspension, arguing that at least one of the missed tests should be dismissed.
