Several media outlets reported on Thursday that Fred Kerley, former World Champion in the 100 meters, had been arrested at Miami where he was preparing for a stage in the Grand Slam Track athletics initiative.
The media reports claimed that Kerley was suspected of assault, but he himself claims it's a misunderstanding.
"The arrest was not due to any crime being committed. It was rather about me exercising my right to remain silent while waiting for a lawyer to be present, writes Fred Kerley.
Kerley, who turns 30 this week, has a heavy merit list. In addition to the World Championship gold in the 100 meters in 2022, he has two more World Championship titles in relay. At the Olympic Games in 2021 in Tokyo, he took silver in the 100 meters and followed up with a bronze at the Olympic Games in Paris last year.
This year, however, has been just as much about his problems with the police, and Thursday's incident meant that he missed the Grand Slam Track competition in Miami.
In January, he was arrested in southern Florida, suspected of violence against an official. The same month, he was also noted in another case, where he was suspected of violence in close relationships regarding an incident in May 2024.
