Olympic 100m Medallist Kerley Signs Up for Performance-Enhanced Games Short Time After Suspension
This Olympic sprint medal winner Fred Kerley will compete in the inaugural Enhanced Games, competition officials revealed this week, just weeks after the Athletics Integrity Unit handed the American a temporary ban for failing to report his location.
Kerley Announces Historic Move
This 2022 100m world champion becomes the initial sprinting athlete and American male athlete to join the competition that allows athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs that are not allowed in official competition.
“I’m excited to a fresh challenge and competing at the Enhanced Games,” stated Kerley. “A global best has consistently been the ultimate goal of my career. This provides me with the chance to focus everything to testing my limits and turning into the fastest human to ever live.”
The Event: Innovation or Health Risk?
Organisers say that the Enhanced Games can assist in revolutionizing sports science as it bucks global doping prevention standards, while opponents have derided it as dangerous to athletes’ well-being.
Enhanced Games launched an competition legal case against World Aquatics, USA Swimming and the World Anti-Doping Agency for as much as $800m in August, claiming an illegal campaign to “eliminate” the event. Wada earlier slammed the event as “dangerous and reckless”.
Expanding Roster of Top Athletes
Kerley joins a number of elite aquatic athletes who have already signed on for the games, including Olympic medal winner athlete Ben Proud, the initial British competitor to join.
“Fred’s decision to compete with us not only demonstrates our aim of hosting the thrilling athletic competitions out there, but also solidifies the increasing appeal of the Enhanced Games as the next phase of elite athletics,” stated the event chief executive, Maximilian Martin.
This inaugural Enhanced Games is set for Las Vegas in May next year.
