May 2 (Reuters) — Olympic sprinter Fred Kerley has been arrested after allegedly punching fellow athlete and former girlfriend Alaysha Johnson in the face, authorities confirmed on Friday.
The incident reportedly took place on Thursday, May 1, at a hotel where Johnson had an appointment with her conditioning coach. According to the police report, Johnson unexpectedly encountered Fred Kerley, a two-time Olympic 100m medalist, at the venue.
Johnson, a competitive hurdler and listed participant in this weekend’s Miami Grand Slam Track event, told officers that Kerley assaulted her during the encounter. Details of the altercation remain under investigation.
As a result of the arrest, Kerley has been withdrawn from the Miami competition and is unlikely to return to competition until the legal process concludes.
The 29-year-old American athlete had previously competed in the Paris 2024 Olympic trials, where he finished second in the semi-finals of the men’s 100m on August 4, 2024, at Stade de France.
No official statement has been issued by Kerley’s legal team or coaching staff as of yet. The track and field community has expressed concern over the incident, particularly given both athletes’ prominence ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris.
