Man, it’s tough to watch Fred Kerley’s rollercoaster year unfold, starting with that wild altercation with security folks in Miami Beach back in January 2025, and all that followed. It’s been a rough start for a guy who’s given us so many thrills on the track, and when it seemed things were coming back on the track for him, a late incident got it messier from there.

Well, fast forward to July, and Kerley dropped another bombshell by pulling out of the USATF Championships in Eugene, Oregon, from July 31 to August 3, effectively ruling him out of the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. This decision came after a stellar career, including a 9.84-second silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and a 9.86-second gold at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene. It felt like watching a champion stumble, and the absence of his explosive speed left a void in the lineup. So, what could possibly come next for a sprinter already facing such a tough season?

On August 12, 2025, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) hits him with a provisional suspension for whereabouts failures, a move detailed on their website updated the same day. The suspension stems from Article 2.4 of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules, with a notice of charge issued, as listed among other cases like Jemila Wortesa’s EPO violation. It’s a gut punch for anyone rooting for Kerley, especially with the timing so close to the championships he has already withdrawn from. But hold on—there’s more to this story.

Kerley isn’t taking this lying down, though, he’s already told the AIU he plans to contest the allegation. He puts out a post, arguing that one or more missed tests should not count due to lack of negligence or issues with the Doping Control Officer’s efforts to find him. In his statement, he said, “Fred Kerley has already notified the AIU that he intends to contest the allegation that he has violated the anti-doping rules related to whereabouts failures, as he strongly believes that one of more of his alleged missed tests should be set aside either because he was not negligent or because the Doping Control Officer did not do what was reasonable under the circumstances to locate him at his designated location.”

He added, “Fred will not comment further at this time out of respect for the process, and looks forward to presenting his case to the appointed hearing panel.” So, with all these setbacks piling up, what’s next for Kerley as he prepares to fight this suspension?

What does ‘whereabouts failure’ entail for an athlete?

Well, track and field fans have always been glued to the drama of the track, but the off-field battles can hit just as hard. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) enforces a whereabouts system to keep sports clean, requiring elite athletes in the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) to submit their location details quarterly. This includes a daily 60-minute window for unannounced drug testing. Sounds simple, right? But slip-ups can cost you big. So, what exactly is a whereabouts failure?

A whereabouts failure happens in two ways: a Filing Failure, like submitting late or inaccurate info (think missing training addresses or vague home locations), or a Missed Test, when an athlete isn’t at their specified spot during that 60-minute slot. The AIU’s strict: three failures in 12 months equal an anti-doping rule violation under Article 2.4 of the World Anti-Doping Code. Take Christian Coleman’s case in 2020—three failures (two missed tests, one filing failure) led to a two-year ban, though he appealed. What’s the penalty if guilty?

If found guilty, athletes face a two-year ineligibility, reducible to one year based on fault. The AIU’s message is clear: compliance protects clean sport. But can athletes balance these demands with their hectic lives?