Ill-judged decision by Fred Kerley to become face of Enhanced Games
The former world 100m champion is in a no-win situation as he prepares to saturate his body with steroids and stimulants.
Fred Kerley's announcement that he will be joining the Enhanced Games will go down in history as one of the most depressing and dubious decisions in athletics history.
The news broke overnight at the World Championships in Tokyo and on Thursday morning around 100 or more journalists gathered for the traditional media race, where Kerley was one of the main talking points. Needless to say there were lots of heads shaking in disapproval.
Not surprisingly, his management agency PACE is understood to have dropped him following these revelations. His shoe sponsor, Asics, had already let him go.
Kerley, 30, won the world 100m title in 2022 and then bronze at the Paris Olympics last year but has seemingly spiralled off the rails in 2026.
In recent weeks he was provisionally suspended for an alleged anti-doping whereabouts violation and therefore has not been competing in the World Championships this month, although he has previously said he would contest the decision.
In January, he was tasered and arrested by police following a confrontation with officers in Miami but said later in May it was due to a "misunderstanding".
He was also reported to have been arrested for allegedly punching his former girlfriend and fellow athlete Alaysha Johnson in the face.
Now he has become the first track athlete and American to join the Enhanced Games, a controversial event which is due to take place for the first time in Las Vegas in May 2026. "It is," the organisers say, "one giant leap for super-humanity."
"I'm looking forward to this new chapter and competing at the Enhanced Games," said Kerley. "The world record has always been the ultimate goal of my career. This now gives me the opportunity to dedicate all my energy to pushing my limits and becoming the fastest human to ever live."
His goal? Usain Bolt's world 100m record of 9.58.
By doing this, though, Kerley will be throwing away the chance to compete at the 2028 Olympics on home soil in Los Angeles.
“Fred’s choice to compete with us not only demonstrates our goal of hosting the most exciting athletic competitions out there, but also solidifies the growing appeal of the Enhanced Games as the future of elite sporting competition,” the Enhanced Games chief executive, Maximilian Martin, said.
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The event, which was first announced in 2023, was created by Australian businessman Aron D’Souza and allows athletes to take banned performance-enhancing drugs under medical supervision.
“The IOC has effectively been a one-party state running the world of sport for 100 years,” D’Souza said. “And now the opposition party is here. We are ready for a fight. I know they are going to play dirty. I know they are going to threaten us. But ultimately we know that we are morally correct.”
The World Anti-Doping Association, however, has slated the event as “dangerous and irresponsible”.
Kerley told Sports Illustrated that he spoke to his family "to get their blessing" before making the decision to join the Enhanced Games. He added: "It feels like I was in prison before — limited even on what over-the-counter medicine I could take. Now I have peace of mind.
"What was valuable 20 years ago isn't valuable today," he continued. "Unless they start paying athletes properly, people will put themselves first. The sport can't survive on outdated pay models."
Kerley is in a no-win situation. If he saturates his body with steroids and stimulants and breaks Bolt's best time, it will be a sad day for sport. If he fails to run as quickly, he will also look daft.
There was widespread condemnation of Olympic silver medallist swimmer Ben Proud, for example, when he became the first Briton to sign up to the event.
Then there are the health concerns with likely kidney damage and a host of other problems. If he comes away with a reputed $1 million for breaking Bolt's record, though, then he will arguably have the last laugh.
