The organization World Athletics, led by Sebastian Coe, is closely monitoring the delays in payments to athletes who participated in the first season of the Grand Slam Track, the ambitious series launched by former Olympic champion Michael Johnson. The tournament, which aimed to revolutionize athletics with multi-million prizes, was abruptly cut from four to three stops, and its final cancellation in Los Angeles left several competitors without guaranteed compensation. “This is not a satisfactory situation,” acknowledged Coe.

While delays in payment are not unusual for new competitions, the scale of outstanding sums—reaching six figures in some cases—has raised concerns in the athletics community. Johnson had promised a total prize fund of $12.6 million, but uncertainty following the sudden cancellation of the inaugural season has cast doubt on the project’s credibility. Some athletes have received appearance fees, but many are still waiting for the promised prize money from their victories in Kingston, Miami, and Philadelphia.

From high expectations to uncertainty: World Athletics’ response

The president of World Athletics made it clear that, although the organization does not have a direct role in the tournament, it is closely watching the situation and remains committed to athletes’ well-being. “Sports ventures must be built on viability, not vanity,” said Coe, emphasizing that his administration has encouraged collaborations with private initiatives, as long as they are well-founded. He reiterated his openness to innovative proposals, but also the importance of meeting elite sport standards.

Despite the setback, the Grand Slam Track organizers insist that payments are on the way and that commitments will be fulfilled before the end of September. However, the contrast between the ambitious initial investment—estimated at $30 million—and the cancellation due to low attendance has raised questions about the series’ long-term viability. Meanwhile, World Athletics is also focusing on efforts to safeguard the integrity of the sport, including the upcoming implementation of DNA testing for elite female athletes, set to begin ahead of the next World Championships.