Daijiworld Media Network- Washington

Washington, Aug 13: U.S. Olympic sprinter Fred Kerley, a silver medallist in the 100 metres at the Tokyo Games, has been provisionally suspended for “whereabouts failures” under athletics’ anti-doping regulations, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced on Tuesday.

Kerley’s lawyers issued a statement via the athlete’s X account, saying he will contest the allegations. “Fred Kerley has already notified the AIU that he intends to contest the allegation… as he strongly believes that one or more of his alleged missed tests should be set aside either because he was not negligent or because the Doping Control Officer did not act reasonably to locate him at his designated location,” the statement read.

The 30-year-old sprinter, who also won a bronze in Paris last year and boasts six world championship medals, said he will make no further comments until the hearing, adding, “You can try to break me in the storm, but all you’re doing is giving me a better story at the finish line.”

Kerley has faced off-track controversies in recent months. In May, he was charged in Florida with assaulting a fellow Olympian hurdler. Earlier in January, he was arrested for allegedly punching a Miami Beach police officer, during which police deployed a Taser.