Grand Slam Track risks setting a ‘dangerous precedent’ over athletes’ unpaid debts

Grand Slam Track, which is backed by Olympic legend Michael Johnson, has been urged to settle debts owed to athletes who competed last year or risk setting a “dangerous precedent”.

Its inaugural season promised prize money and lucrative salaries for contract runners, but its final event was canceled with organizers later filing for voluntary bankruptcy in the United States.

The move leaves several big names out of pocket, including women’s 400m hurdles world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levron, who is worth $268,750 (£196,000).

The Association of Athletics Administrators (AAM), which represents a number of stars, says the GST now risks undermining confidence in the sport after it sought $400,000 (£292,000) as part of a court-supervised reorganization to pay for “athlete recruitment” for the 2026 season.

The AAM is calling on the GST to “immediately prioritize” repaying all outstanding debts – which it claims total more than $30m (£11.8m) to more than 150 athletes and companies – “before attempting to organize additional events”.

The BBC has contacted GST for comment.

It said in a statement last month that it would use the bankruptcy process “to stabilize its finances, implement a more efficient cost and operating model, and position GST for long-term success.”