Once hailed as the fastest man on Earth, Fred Kerley now finds himself navigating uncharted waters. After becoming one of the first stars to join the Enhanced Games, a league where PED use is openly allowed, Kerley’s bold move has thrust him into controversy. Just months before signing on, the former 100m World Champion faced a provisional suspension by the Athletics Integrity Unit. While many might call this the toughest stretch of his career, Kerley isn’t backing down, using the moment to take a subtle jab at rival Noah Lyles and remind the world that he’s still very much in the race.

Fred Kerley recently took to Instagram to share a striking photo of himself next to his mural, painted on the Ford Ground Storage Tank at 1606 N. Main St in his hometown. Captioning it, he wrote, “I ain’t on the billboard, I’m on the skyline. Different league.” Upon closer look, we noticed that the image was actually a throwback from 2023, when Kerley held the 100m world champion title.

Standing before the media, the athlete sported a T-shirt that read, “To all the teachers that told me I’m amount to nothin’.” A subtle yet powerful message to every critic who ever doubted him, one that still resonates today. Since 2023, when Noah Lyles dethroned Erriyon Knighton to become the fastest man in the world, he has been the face of global athletics in the 100m and 200m. His name even lit up billboards ahead of Netflix’s Sprint, a landmark moment in his career. But the question remains: does Noah have a mural dedicated to his name?

Back in October 2022, Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson honored Noah Lyles with the Key to the City for his athletic feats and community impact. Two years later, on September 22, 2024, the city celebrated his Olympic triumphs with a lively rally at Chinquapin Park and Alexandria City High School, complete with music, cheerleaders, and a coat drive by the Lyles Brothers Sports Foundation. Kerley’s caption on his Instagram handle might just be a subtle dig at Noah Lyles, who is being celebrated as the face of sports.

Well, a good number of people believe that Kerley’s career might be going downhill. After signing his deal with the Enhanced Games, critics began questioning his choice to join the league, especially as it meant skipping the World Athletics Championships and facing a 12-month ban for whereabouts failures. Many question his decisions, but is he worried about that? Well, certainly not.

Recently, the athlete took to his Instagram handle and posted a video of himself racing a civilian on asphalt, jeans and all, and not only did he come out on top, but he seemingly pocketed a whopping $100,000 in the process. “I really do this for a living. $100K gone like lunch money. Stay in your lane,” he captioned the clip. He is quite happy with his decision to join the Enhanced Games and is looking forward to making a name for himself there, but is the business model feasible? Carl Lewis would beg to differ.

Carl Lewis gives his take on Fred Kerley’s Enhanced Games

Controversy seems baked into the DNA of the Enhanced Games, yet top athletes, including Fred Kerley, are lining up to compete. Could this be the new normal for elite sports? Speaking at New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, American sprint legend Carl Lewis pointed to social media as a major driver behind the hype. “So much of what people see is curated, even fake… The real challenge is being upfront and honest about what we’re actually doing,” Lewis told EssentiallySports in an exclusive interview.

He added, “The reason why we can even talk about whatever those games–Enhanced Games– is because people have been talking about it for years. ‘Oh, let everyone take what they want.’ And the world just shuts them down. But now we’re in a world where, ‘Oh, it doesn’t really matter as long as I’m famous.” For Lewis, the Enhanced Games aren’t just an anomaly; they’re a symptom of a cultural decay where authenticity is sacrificed for fleeting fame.

Carl Lewis warned that all the hype reflects a society obsessed with spectacle over substance. Meanwhile, Fred Kerley couldn’t care less, he’s chasing what brings him joy, unapologetically and with full conviction.