On Thursday, two-time 100m medallist Fred Kerley was arrested and charged with “touch or strike battery” in Miami, where he was scheduled to compete in the second Grand Slam Track event on Saturday, after an argument with an ex-girlfriend during which he allegedly struck her in the face. The sprinter will no longer be competing in the event.
According to TMZ, the argument with Olympic hurdler Alaysha Johnson, 28, whom he had previously dated, took place in the meet hotel after a chance meeting. The report claims Kerley hit her hard enough that her nose bled.
In January, Kerley was arrested in the same city after an altercation with police during which he was tasered; he later faced further charges of domestic battery and robbery related to a previous incident. (When his wife, Angelica Taylor, was brought in to provide support, she decided to press charges instead.)
Kerley had contracted to compete as a Racer in the Grand Slam Track short sprints group (100/200 metres); he finished seventh in the 100m and third in the 200m at the series’ inaugural meet in Kingston, Jamaica in April.
Kerley won world championship gold in the 100m in 2022, as well as Olympic silver in 2021 and bronze in 2024.
U.S. Olympic medallist charged with domestic violence
Grand Slam Track posted the following brief statement:
Fred Kerley was arrested last night. 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 will be replaced at GST by U.S. sprinter Brandon Hicklin.
