The last we saw of ​Fred Kerley was in September 2024 in the Diamond League Final in Brussels. And the result, you may ask, was not what Fred Kerley would have wanted. Well, he did place third in the 100 meters and clocked an impressive time of 10.1 seconds. But the 200 meters came as a disappointment! He was absent from the podium and finished in fifth place.  Does his sponsorship have something to do with it? Or is it his shoes? Well, both are the same! He has been unsponsored since June 2024 after the ASICS contract termination due to wearing another brand’s shoes while being sponsored by another brand. Now, he has started his 2025 season. And his shoes still got it. Talking about his shoes, are they about to be filled by someone else? 

The man had some tough competition from a 23-year-old! Yes, you read that right! USC Track & Field / XC took to their X account to post the Big Ten’s Men 100m race and wrote, “Eddie Nketia went toe-to-toe with Olympic medalist Fred Kerley in the 100m!” The Olympic silver medalist was put to some fierce competition by the New Zealand sprinter, clocking times of 10.23 and 10.26, respectively. The unsponsored athlete won his season opener at the USC Trojan Invitational today, but the winning margin was just 0.03 seconds. Oh gosh! That was a close call.

The 29-year-old athlete took his mark in lane number 5 while the USC athlete took the one to his very right from behind (lane number 6), and the two of them just stuck together. The commentator at the start of the race said, “Fred Kerley in the middle, Nketia staying with him,” Not much changed after a few seconds as the race started to come to a halt, and the commentator this time said, “Nketia running with Kerley!” The surprise in his voice was quite evident as the USC athlete stayed close to Fred. 

The bronze also went to USC as 19-year-old Jaelen Knox finished third with a time of 10.54. He was followed by his USC fellow mate, Jazonte Levan, who completed the race in 10.59.  Drew Hill finished the fight with a 10.61, and the only other USC student was the number 9, Curtis Johnson, clocking a 10.78.

The new season has started, and Fred won his season opener, but what about him not being sponsored since June 2024?

Fred Kerley sponsorship controversy explained!

The Nike Air Zoom Maxfly spikes and Oakley athletic wear are what Fred Kerley donned in the US Olympics Track and Field Trials 2024, and this was the second-to-last time he was sponsored by ASICS. Ever since then, there have not been any sponsors of the Olympian, though at times he can be seen wearing Puma spikes to races. As a matter of fact, it was the Puma spikes that ended his deal with ASICS.

The Olympian walked out in the New York City Grand Prix, wearing Puma spikes. This was the time when he was still under contract with ASICS, and this did not sit right with them. Though the 29-year-old did clarify that, “I ain’t switch it up. I left my bag at the airport,” but later it was announced by ASICS over their social media, “ASICS and Fred Kerley have mutually parted ways and he is no longer an ASICS sponsored athlete. We wish him the best in his career.” The two had signed into partnership in February 2023 after Kerley’s contract with Nike expired. The deal between the Olympian and the sporting goods company was always kind of off. After being signed by the company in 2023, Kerley lost the World Championships 100m final and switched coaches to Quincy Watts.