Sebastian Coe has said World Athletics is monitoring outstanding athlete payments from Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track series, with the governing body’s president stating: “There is no point in pretending this is a satisfactory situation.”
Johnson cancelled the final Los Angeles leg of his new four-meeting series last month following low spectator numbers at the opening three editions in Miami, Philadelphia, and Kingston in Jamaica. A prize fund of $12.6m (£9.3m) was announced at the series launch, but some athletes are understood to have not been paid. It is not unusual for a time lag between competition and remuneration but, given the abrupt end to the aborted first season, runners are concerned over individual payments that stretch well into six figures.
