Usain Bolt’s 100m world record might finally be broken as a banned sprinter aims for a $1 million prize.
Even though he was banned from sprinting for two years, American sprinter Fred Kerley, who says he’s faster than Usain Bolt, is ready to get back on the track and try to break the long-standing 100m record.
Fred Kerley, a former world champion in the 100 meters, was suspended because of anti-doping whereabouts violations. His ban from the Olympics and World Championships started in X, not long after he was arrested amid allegations of violence against his ex-wife.
Since missing the last World Championships in Tokyo due to his suspension by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), Kerley has been active on social media, claiming he can beat Bolt’s sprinting records.
Now, he’s making a comeback at the first-ever “Enhanced Games,” a new and debated event starting in 2026. The Enhanced Games will let athletes who were banned for performance-enhancing reasons compete again.
This event will take place in Las Vegas over Memorial Day weekend and offers a huge $25 million prize pool. It’s already attracting big names like British swimmer Ben Proud.
Kerley is excited to be part of it and will be the first American track athlete announced as a competitor. He said, “I’m excited for this new chapter and the chance to race in the Enhanced Games. Breaking the world record has always been my dream, and now I can focus all my energy on pushing my limits to become the fastest person ever.”
The Enhanced Games is offering $1 million to anyone who breaks Usain Bolt’s 100m world record of 9.58 seconds. Kerley, who won a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics just behind Noah Lyles, has shared videos on social media where he seems to beat Bolt’s 150m world record by 0.34 seconds.
Now 30 years old, Kerley has a tough challenge ahead if he wants to improve on his personal best of 9.76 seconds by more than two-tenths. Some scientists say he might have a better chance going for the 200m record of 19.19 seconds instead.
The whole idea of the Enhanced Games, supported by Donald Trump Jr., has sparked a lot of criticism from athletes and scientists. Many worry that the use of performance-enhancing drugs might cause permanent effects and are questioning the fairness of the event.