Josh Kerr, the new mile world record holder, openly declared that he is “100 percent” certain he has raced against doped athletes, stating that athletics is “riddled” with a doping epidemic. This summer, the Scotsman gained mainstream attention after breaking Hicham El Guerrouj’s long-standing mile record at the London Diamond League in July, clocking in at 3:42.66, a half-second faster than the previous record set in 1999. He followed this achievement with a gold medal in the mile at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Kerr, a former 1,500m world champion, is now targeting the world record over that distance, also held by El Guerrouj, and eyeing Olympic gold at LA 2028. He emphasized his clean approach to the sport, supported by a dedicated team of 16 and a specialized regimen that includes sleeping in an oxygenated chamber.

He expressed frustration over the doping issues, recalling his experience at the 2017 World Championships in London, where he competed against athletes later banned for doping. Kerr stated, “I raced in the first round of the 1,500m World Championships in London in 2017 against people who were then done for doping. Our sport is riddled with it.”

Kerr’s mental coach, Jose Maresma, has helped him confront vulnerabilities, reinforcing that knowing he has trained correctly gives him peace of mind, even in defeat. He remarked, “Doing things right makes me stronger.”

Additionally, Kerr addressed his rivalry with Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who criticized athletes missing major events. The two will face off at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship this September, with Kerr focusing on his legacy as the best miler of all time.