USA Olympic 100m medallist Fred Kerley arrested, set to miss Miami Grand Slam meet

Fred Kerley, former world 100m champion, has pulled out of the upcoming Grand Slam Track meeting in Miami following his arrest on battery charges, as confirmed by officials on Friday.The American sprinter, aged 29, who clinched 100m gold at the 2022 World Championships, was taken into custody on Thursday by Broward County police in Florida.According to arrest records, Kerley faced charges of touch or strike battery and was still detained in jail early Friday.As reported by the track and field news website, the arrest occurred following an incident at the official accommodation for the Grand Slam Track meeting, which is the second event in Michael Johnson's new series.Grand Slam Track confirmed Kerley's withdrawal from the competition."Fred Kerley was arrested last night," Grand Slam Track announced in a statement. "The matter is under active investigation, and all inquiries should be directed to the Broward County Sheriff's Office. Fred will not compete this weekend. We have no further comment at this time."The sprinter, who holds a 100m silver medal from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and a 100m bronze from the Paris Games last year, has encountered several legal issues recently.In January, Miami Beach police arrested him after a confrontation with officers, resulting in him being tasered. He subsequently faced charges of battery against a police officer, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.Additionally in January, he received charges of domestic violence by strangulation linked to an incident in May 2024.