Olympic sprinter Fred Kerley got some good news after Florida prosecutors dropped a domestic violence case against him. The case had been ongoing since last year and was a major concern for the U.S. Olympian. Kerley shared his relief on Instagram on Thursday after the case was dismissed. “They put me through hell, but truth walked me home,” Kerley wrote. “Cases dismissed. Blessing on blessings. Thank to the bests lawyer.”
According to The Daily Mail, the dropped case came from an incident in May 2024. His now-estranged wife claimed they got into a physical fight and that Kerley had “impeded her breathing.” These serious claims led to the initial charges against him.
Kerley’s lawyers, Richard Cooper and Yale Sanford, worked to get the case dismissed. Cooper said the case was dropped because there was no real evidence to move forward. “I’m happy to report that the case was dismissed due to an utter lack of evidence and good faith to proceed by the prosecutor,” Cooper stated.
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Kerley’s legal team successfully argued there wasn’t enough evidence to continue the case
Cooper defended Kerley and said he “could never and would never hurt a woman, especially the mother of his children.” The lawyer added that Kerley is now ready to focus on his career and is “looking forward to focusing on winning races and inspiring people around the world.”
While the 2024 domestic violence case is now gone, Kerley still has other legal problems to deal with. In January 2025, he was arrested after a confrontation with Miami Beach police officers who used a stun gun on him. Like other high-profile athletes, Kerley has found himself navigating intense public scrutiny during his legal troubles.
Sanford said Kerley needs to complete a six-month pre-trial diversion program to get the police battery case dropped. Kerley also faces a third case from 2025 when he was arrested for allegedly punching his former girlfriend, Olympic hurdler Alaysha Johnson. He was charged with misdemeanor battery and has denied these claims.
Despite his legal troubles, Kerley has had a strong running career. He won the silver medal in the 100m dash at the 2020 Tokyo Games and earned a bronze medal in Paris in 2024. However, 2025 brought more problems when Kerley faced a doping ban for a missed test. Athletes across different sports have faced questions about their dedication and effort when dealing with setbacks.Â
He is currently appealing that decision and has signed up to compete in the Enhanced Games, a competition scheduled for next year that allows monitored performance-enhancing drug use. The Enhanced Games offers $1 million for any broken world records, and each event has a total prize of $500,000, with winners taking home $250,000. The games are set for May, and Kerley said, “I’m looking forward to this new chapter and competing at the Enhanced Games.”
Published: Jan 16, 2026 02:30 pm