Fred Kerley, a two-time Olympic 100m medallist currently serving a suspension, has become the first US man and first track and field athlete to sign up for the Enhanced Games, where competitors will be free to use performance-enhancing drugs.
The Enhanced Games announced Kerley’s participation on social media on Thursday, saying he would take part in the 100m in the first edition of the competition that allows “performance-enhancing substances” with a protocol they claim is “safe, legal and science-driven”.
Kerley said in a statement posted on the Enhanced Games website that he believes the Enhanced Games give him a chance to challenge Usain Bolt’s 100m world record of 9.58sec.
“The world record has always been the ultimate goal of my career,” Kerley said.
“This now gives me the opportunity to dedicate all of my energy to pushing my limits and becoming the fastest human to ever live.”
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A $1 million bonus is on offer to any competitor who breaks a world record at the event.
Kerley won 100m silver at the pandemic-delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics and captured bronze at the Paris Games last year.
He won 100m gold at the 2022 athletics World Championships, but he is currently serving a provisional suspension for failing to meet anti-doping test whereabouts obligations.
Kerley is the first track and field specialist to commit to the Enhanced Games after swimmers James Magnussen, Ben Proud and Kristian Gkolomeev.
Kyle Chalmers rejects millions
While Kerley has signed up to the Enhanced Games, Australian swimming champion Kyle Chalmers has knocked back a multimillion offer to join the drug-fuelled event.
The SMH reports the Enhanced Games offered Chalmers a three-year contract worth A$1.6 million, as well as bonuses worth up to USD$1.5 million. The offer also included equity in the Enhanced Games business.
Chalmers stood to make around US$2.54 million (A$3.8 million) but rejected the “life changing” offer.
“Kyle said no from the onset. It was a brief discussion,” Chalmers’ manager Phoebe Rothfield told the SMH.
“It is life-changing money for a swimmer – or any Australian Olympic athlete, for that matter.
“It could have set him and his young family up and helped with the mortgage, but Kyle said no.
“What drives him is competing for his country, standing on the podium in the green and gold and doing the sport because he loves it.”
Chalmers has called on World Aquatics to offer more money to swimmers.
Last week, British swimmer Ben Proud became the highest profile swimmer to sign up to the Enhanced Games, with the world champion saying he had achieved everything he could in his traditional swimming career.
What is the Enhanced Games?
The project, launched by Australian entrepreneur Aron D’Souza in 2023, has stirred controversy over fears it endangers athlete health with the World Anti-Doping Agency describing it as a “dangerous and irresponsible project.”
The inaugural edition, comprising swimming, sprinting and weightlifting, is set to be held in Las Vegas on May 21-24, 2026.
Athletes competing in the Enhanced Games will be allowed to use drugs banned across international sport such as steroids and human growth hormones.
The winners of each event receive $250,000.
In June, World Aquatics became the first international federation to ban athletes, coaches and officials from its events if they take part in the Enhanced Games.
In August, the Enhanced Games filed an anti-trust lawsuit against World Aquatics, USA Swimming and the World Anti-Doping Agency in US court accusing the bodies of a “blatantly predatory and illegal campaign to force anyone involved in the sport, including athletes, support staff and officials to boycott the Enhanced Games and stop the Enhanced Games from entering the market for international elite swimming.”
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