Fred Kerley, the 29-year-old American sprinter and former world 100m champion, has withdrawn from this weekend’s Grand Slam Track meeting in Miami following his arrest for battery, officials confirmed on Friday. Kerley, who secured the 100m gold medal at the 2022 World Championships, was taken into custody by police in Broward County, Florida on Thursday.
According to arrest records, Kerley was charged with touch or strike battery and remained in custody as of early Friday morning. The incident leading to his arrest occurred at the official hotel for this weekend’s Grand Slam Track meeting, the second event of Michael Johnson’s newly established athletics circuit, as reported by the track and field news website Letsrun.com.
Grand Slam Track officials have confirmed Kerley’s withdrawal from the event. “Fred Kerley was arrested last night,” a spokesperson for Grand Slam Track stated. “The matter is under active investigation, and all inquiries should be directed to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. Fred will not compete this weekend. We have no further comment at this time.”
Kerley, whose impressive career includes a silver medal in the 100m at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and a bronze in the same event at last year’s Paris Games, has faced multiple legal issues in recent months. In January, he was arrested following a confrontation with police officers in Miami Beach, during which he was tasered. That incident resulted in charges of battery against a police officer, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct.
In addition to this, Kerley was also charged with domestic violence by strangulation in a separate case from January, stemming from an incident that occurred in May 2024.
