Olympic sprinter Fred Kerley has been handed a provisional suspension following three whereabouts failures, a breach of anti-doping regulations that could jeopardise his career.
The American athlete, a silver medallist in the 100m at the Tokyo Olympics, failed to provide accurate location information on three separate occasions within a 12-month period. Under World Athletics rules, this constitutes a violation and triggers an automatic provisional ban.
What are whereabouts failures?
Elite athletes are required to submit detailed whereabouts information to allow for out-of-competition drug testing. This includes:
- A daily one-hour time slot when they'll be available for testing
- Their overnight accommodation details
- Competition and training schedules
Three missed tests or filing failures within 12 months is considered an anti-doping rule violation.
Potential consequences
Kerley now faces a disciplinary process that could result in:
- A ban of up to two years
- Potential disqualification of past results
- Loss of sponsorship deals
The 28-year-old sprinter had been preparing for the upcoming World Championships when news of the suspension broke.
Kerley's response
While Kerley hasn't yet made a public statement, sources close to the athlete suggest he may challenge the suspension. His legal team is reportedly reviewing the circumstances surrounding the alleged violations.
This development comes as a significant blow to one of track and field's most prominent stars, who was expected to be a major contender in this summer's major competitions.
