Olympic Sprint Medallist Fred Kerley Signs Up for Enhanced Games Short Time After Ban
The Olympic 100m silver and bronze winner Fred Kerley will compete in the inaugural Enhanced Games, event organisers announced this week, just weeks following sports authorities issued the US sprinter a temporary ban for whereabouts failures.
Kerley Makes Landmark Move
This reigning sprint world champion becomes the initial track competitor and US man to join the event that permits competitors to use banned substances that are not allowed in official competition.
“I’m excited to a fresh challenge and taking part at the Enhanced Games,” stated the sprinter. “A global best has consistently been my main aim of my career. It now gives me the chance to dedicate everything to testing my limits and becoming the fastest human to has ever live.”
The Event: A New Frontier or Danger?
Officials say that the competition can assist in revolutionizing athletic research as it bucks worldwide doping prevention standards, while opponents have criticized it as harmful to competitors' health.
The organization filed an anti-trust lawsuit against international swimming bodies, USA Swimming and the World Anti-Doping Agency for as much as $800m in last month, alleging an illegal effort to “eliminate” the event. Wada previously slammed the competition as “harmful and reckless”.
Expanding Roster of Elite Athletes
Kerley joins several top-level swimmers who have previously agreed for the competition, including Games medal winner swimmer Ben Proud, the first Briton to sign on.
“Kerley’s choice to compete with us does not just demonstrates our goal of organizing the thrilling sports events out there, but also strengthens the growing appeal of the Enhanced Games as the next phase of top-tier sporting competition,” stated the Enhanced Games CEO, Maximilian Martin.
The first Enhanced Games is set for Las Vegas in May next year.
