Team USA Blow as Fred Kerley Withdraws from World Championships with Heartbreaking Update

Former world champion Fred Kerley has withdrawn from the 2025 World Championships over a number of reasons, robbing Team USA of an experienced sprinter.

Former world 100m champion Fred Kerley will miss the 2025 World Championships after being forced out by off the track issues.

Kerley, who has been a number of run-ins with the law this year, has confirmed that he will not be taking part in the US National Championships this week which will be used to select Team USA to the 2025 World Championships set to take place in Tokyo, Japan in September.

Through a post on X, the 2022 world 100m champion confirmed that he has taken some time off to get back on track after encountering a number of challenges this year.

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“The 100m should be a straight sprint. 2025 has presented many hurdles. Taking some time out to get back on track. No USATF Champs this year. Thanks to all my supporters,” Kerley posted.

Who Will Benefit from Fred Kerley’s Absence?

His absence will be a blow for Team USA as he is one of the most experienced sprinters although it presents an opportunity for others to profit.

With reigning world champion Noah Lyles given a bye, Olympics 200m silver medalist Kenny Bednarek, 2019 world 100m champion Christian Coleman and two-time world bronze medalist Trayvon Bromell are among the experienced sprinters left to compete for the three available slots to the 100m team to Tokyo.

The US National Championships will take place at the Hayward Field in Eugene with the men’s 100m final scheduled for Friday.

Kerley has had a tough year that started with his arrest and subsequent arraignment in Miami in January after an altercation with South Florida police that saw him hit with a stun gun.

Kerley Has Been Arrested Multiple Times in 2025

According to a statement from the Miami Beach police, Kerley was speaking with officers "about his vehicle parked nearby" when his "demeanor became increasingly aggressive,” and when he was asked to leave the area, he allegedly refused and "assumed a fighting stance.”

When officers tried to arrest Kerley, he allegedly resisted and "a dart-firing stun gun was effectively deployed," to calm him down.

Kerley would be released and returned to competition in March, later featuring in the inaugural leg of Grand Slam Track in Kingston, Jamaica in April, but missed the second leg in Miami after he was arrested for allegedly punching his former girlfriend and fellow athlete Alaysha Johnson in the face.