Swedish Sprinter Henrik Larsson Criticizes Fred Kerley's Enhanced Games Move

Fred Kerley leaves pure athletics to participate in Enhanced Games. Henrik Larsson's thoughts? He is such a clown, says the Swede who set a personal record in the World Championship semifinal on 200 meters.

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Swedish Sprinter Henrik Larsson Criticizes Fred Kerley's Enhanced Games Move
Photo: Christine Olsson/TT

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World Championship gold and Olympic Games silver are the medals that stand out when it comes to the American Fred Kerley's career.

Now, the 30-year-old has set his sights on something completely different.

The sprinter has joined the controversial Enhanced Games, where doping is allowed and is therefore also known as the "doping Olympic Games".

Larsson not surprised

Henrik Larsson is clear about what he thinks and calls his former athletics competitor a "joke".

In a way, I was not even surprised. How did I not think of this before, that he would be able to do something like this, he says.

Kerley is currently suspended for deficiencies in his whereabouts reporting, which must be done according to the athletics anti-doping rules.

It's not difficult. I've been doing it since I was 18 and never got a single warning. Who knows - maybe it's harder for them, says Larsson.

This feels like he's admitting to doping.

The Swede doesn't even think Kerley will succeed in beating the Jamaican Usain Bolt's world record on 100 and 200 meters.

He'll just embarrass himself again.

What do you think of the Enhanced Games in general?

Should one laugh or cry? They claim that there will be medical supervision and so on, but it's not just a matter of taking x preparations and getting faster, there are extremely serious consequences to all this. The fact that they are normalizing it - it's really bad. One can only hope that the majority still understand what is right and wrong.

Down in the swamp

Does this affect athletics?

No, I don't think so. It's not just one old guy who can drag us down into the swamp.

But it's sad. He's still a person who has represented the sport at a global level and has Olympic Games medals and World Championship medals... If you look at his history outside the track, he's a problematic guy.

25-year-old Henrik Larsson ended the World Championship in Tokyo with style. After the disappointment on 100 meters, it got better on the double distance.

Personal best in the heats - something he improved further in the semifinals. With 20.32, he improved by eight hundredths but missed a spot in the medal race.

Even if I want more, it's nice to end 2025 with a "personal best". Nice to know I'm on the right track, he says.

Johan Wissman holds the Swedish record on 200 meters with 20.30.

Julia Henriksson came seventh in her semifinal heat on 200 meters with 22.93, slightly slower than in the heats.

I'm so proud to be able to be in a semifinal at the World Championship. I had hoped for better times, but at the same time, under 23 is acceptable. It's just a matter of moving on from here.

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By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

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