A banned sprinter, once called ‘faster than Usain Bolt,’ is now one of four athletes taking part in the Enhanced Games without using drugs.
A banned sprinter who says he’s run faster than Usain Bolt is one of four athletes competing clean at the upcoming Enhanced Games. This one-day event, which lets athletes use certain performance-enhancing substances, will take place on Sunday in Las Vegas.
There will be four sports: swimming, track and field, strongman, and weightlifting. A total of 42 athletes are signed up, including British swimmers Ben Proud, Reece Prescod, and Emily Barclay.
Ben Proud’s participation is especially debated because he won silver in the men’s 50m freestyle at the Paris 2024 Olympics. But the biggest name is US sprinter Fred Kerley, a two-time Olympic silver medalist over 100 meters.
In 2022, Kerley posted a video showing him running 150 meters in 14.01 seconds — 0.34 seconds faster than Bolt’s record for that distance. Kerley, 31, is currently serving a two-year ban from competitive athletics due to missed doping tests but signed up for the Enhanced Games last year.
The event’s organizers, Enhanced Group, shared data from 36 of the 42 athletes this week. They said 62% of those athletes used stimulants in their training, but only four are competing clean. They won’t reveal who these athletes are, though.
Kerley has gone public saying he’s not using any performance-enhancing drugs for the 100-meter race. He spoke to reporters on Friday, saying he’s been regularly tested and is competing for financial reasons.
“I don’t need any substances,” he said. “God gave me fast feet. I’m here to show my talent. I plan to compete in the 2028 Olympics. They can’t stop me. We, the athletes, pay the bills—not them. I’m still tested by the AIU and USADA. The only difference is, I’m making more money now. If you lose your job, don’t you look for ways to earn more?”
World Athletics chairman Sebastian Coe said in 2024 that anyone competing at the Enhanced Games would face a long ban from official competitions. It’s unclear if this will affect Kerley once his current ban ends next year.
The schedule for Sunday in Las Vegas is still being finalized. Weightlifting and strongman events are expected to start around 11 pm UK time, with swimming and athletics beginning at 2 am UK time on Monday.
Swimming will include the 50m freestyle, 50m butterfly, 100m freestyle, and 100m butterfly. Athletics will feature only the 100m race, while weightlifting and strongman will have single events each.