US sprint star Fred Kerley handed two-year ban for missing three drug tests

Updated
Fred Kerley has been ‌suspended for missing ‌three ‌out-of-competition drug tests ‌within a 12-month ‌period
Fred Kerley has been ‌suspended for missing ‌three ‌out-of-competition drug tests ‌within a 12-month ‌periodReuters / Aleksandra Szmigiel

American sprinter Fred Kerley has been suspended for ⁠missing three out-of-competition drug tests within a 12-month period, the Athletics ‌Integrity Unit (AIU) announced on Friday.

The AIU said Kerley's ‌missed tests qualify as whereabouts failures ‌under the World Anti-Doping Code, which requires ‌athletes in a registered testing pool ‌to provide daily location details so they can be tested without notice.

Three missed tests ‌or filing failures in a ⁠year can ‌trigger a sanction of up to two years.

"How ​does someone come forward and say they were given drugs, the ​athlete gets banned, but the whole camp isn’t investigated? Clean sport means ⁠accountability for everyone, ​not just the athlete," the sprinter wrote on X in response to the AIU statement.

Kerley, 30, won silver in ‌the 100 metres at the Tokyo Olympics and bronze in Paris last summer. He also captured the 100-metre world title in 2022.

Kerley joined the Enhanced Games in September, a decision that came while he was facing a provisional suspension by the AIU for multiple ‌whereabouts failures.

The event, which allows athletes ​to use performance-enhancing drugs that are ‌banned in official competition, is set to take place on May 24th, 2026, in Las Vegas.

USA Track & Field (USATF) did not immediately respond to a ⁠Reuters request ⁠for comment.

21+ | COMPETENT REGULATOR EEEP | RISK OF ADDICTION & LOSS OF PROPERTY | KETHEA HELPLINE: 210 9237777 | PLAY RESPONSIBLY & SAFELY |

Do you want to withdraw your consent to display betting ads?
Yes, change settings