MIAMI, FL – American dash star and former world 100-meter champion Fred Kerley has withdrawn from this weekend’s Grand Slam Observe meet in Miami after being arrested on a battery cost, occasion organizers confirmed Friday.
The 29-year-old athlete, who claimed 100m gold on the 2022 World Championships and earned Olympic silver in Tokyo, was taken into custody Thursday by police in Broward County, Florida. Arrest information point out Kerley was charged with “contact or strike battery” and remained in custody as of Friday morning.
The incident reportedly occurred on the official lodge for the Grand Slam Observe meet, the second cease in Michael Johnson’s newly launched observe and discipline circuit. Information of Kerley’s arrest first surfaced by way of Letsrun.com, a web site devoted to trace and discipline protection.
“Fred Kerley was arrested final evening,” organizers of the Grand Slam Observe meet stated in a press release. “The matter is underneath lively investigation, and all inquiries ought to be directed to the Broward County Sheriff’s Workplace. Fred is not going to compete this weekend. We have now no additional remark right now.”
This newest arrest provides to a string of authorized troubles for Kerley in current months. In January, he was detained by Miami Seaside police after a confrontation that reportedly led to him being tasered. He was later charged with battery on a legislation enforcement officer, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct.
Additionally in January, Kerley confronted a separate cost of home violence by strangulation, stemming from an alleged incident in Might 2024.
As soon as thought of one of many brightest stars in American sprinting, Kerley’s off-track points now solid a shadow over his athletic profession. His absence from the Miami meet will likely be a big blow to the brand new Grand Slam Observe circuit, which has been working to draw top-tier expertise and construct momentum within the sport.
Kerley has but to difficulty a public assertion concerning his most up-to-date arrest.