Athletes promised thousands of pounds in payments for participating in Grand Slam Track events are still waiting for their money, despite organisers saying they had all been paid.
Agents and sports-management companies told BBC Sport athletes are yet to receive money they are owed, despite GST founder Michael Johnson saying he had “got the athletes paid” after a “catastrophic capital issue” caused by investors pulling out.
Four-time former Olympic champion Johnson launched GST in 2025 with the promise of lucrative prize money and salaries.
Originally scheduled for four marquee meets, the final event in Los Angeles was cancelled and organisers voluntarily filed for bankruptcy in the US in December.
In an interview in the Telegraph, external on Saturday, Johnson admitted that as GST ran into financial trouble, he used his own credit card to purchase athlete flights and hotel rooms.
The 58-year-old said he was hurt by accusations he “secretly” paid himself $500,000 (£375,000) days before the season collapsed – a claim a GST representative said at the time was “unfounded and false”.
“I’m happy to clear it up, because it’s the most hurtful thing and the exact opposite of what was reported,” Johnson told The Telegraph.
“Our credit card was full at Grand Slam Track, because we were facing significant cash-flow issues.
“I instructed our travel team to put it on my credit card, and I would be reimbursed for it. So, what I received was reimbursement.”
But Johnson’s claim those who were owed money by GST had received it was premature.
A company acting on behalf of athletes said they had not received any payments, nor had they been contacted to be told when they were due.
Johnson’s representatives conceded the money had not yet reached the athletes and said the American had not intentionally set out to deceive people by saying it had.
It is understood the reported $11m (£8.1m) owed to creditors – including athletes – is being held by a third party.
BBC Sport has contacted the American firm believed to be holding the money but it is yet to respond. It is unclear how long it will take to pay the athletes.
Several high-profile athletes were owed payments of more than £100,000, including British former world 1500m champion Josh Kerr and Olympic 400m silver medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith.
Johnson has been a pundit and commentator for the BBC since 2001 but has not worked for the broadcaster since the 2024 Olympics as he focused his attention on GST.
