Athletes involved in the Grand Slam Track events are facing significant delays in receiving promised payments, despite assurances from GST founder Michael Johnson that all athletes had been compensated. Reports indicate that agents and sports-management companies have confirmed that payments remain outstanding, contradicting Johnson's statements following a financial crisis caused by investors withdrawing support.

Launched in 2025, Grand Slam Track aimed to provide lucrative prize money and salaries to its participants. However, the series faced turmoil, culminating in the cancellation of its final event in Los Angeles and the filing for bankruptcy in the U.S. in December. Johnson, a four-time Olympic champion, expressed frustration over accusations regarding his financial conduct during this turbulent period.

In a recent interview with the Telegraph, Johnson clarified that he used his personal credit card to cover athletes' travel expenses amidst severe cash-flow problems, stating:

"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."

Despite Johnson's claims, a company representing the athletes confirmed that payments were still pending, with no communication regarding timelines for disbursement. Johnson's team acknowledged the oversight, indicating that the reported $11 million (£8.1 million) owed to creditors, including athletes, is currently held by a third party.

High-profile athletes like Josh Kerr and Matthew Hudson-Smith are among those owed significant amounts exceeding £100,000. Johnson, who has not worked with the BBC since the 2024 Olympics, has been concentrating his efforts on resolving the issues surrounding GST.