‘It’s unconscionable’ - World Athletics blasts bankrupt Grand Slam Track for looking ahead before paying bills

Track and field's international federation called it "unconscionable" for the bankrupt Grand Slam Track (GST) league to be looking into bankrolling future events before its debts from the 2025 season are settled.

World Athletics released a statement on Monday supporting the position taken last week by an agents group that represents the majority of top-tier runners. That group, the Association of Athletics Managers, said it did not agree with what it said was the league's idea of using $400,000 for athlete recruitment for 2026 until the 300 people and companies it currently owes are paid.

OWED $40M IN LIABILITIES

GST's most recent bankruptcy filing said it owed more than $40 million in liabilities.

"It is unconscionable that efforts would be made for Grand Slam Track to restart in 2026 without the settlement of outstanding financial obligations to athletes, vendors and service providers," World Athletics said.

"It is paramount that athletes who competed in good faith and vendors and service providers are treated fairly and paid."

The GST's president and CEO, Steve Gera, has not returned emails sent by The Associated Press seeking comment.

Though GST operated outside of World Athletics, the federation supported the league's events by granting athletes world ranking points for their results in the three meets. World Athletics said it would only consider "licensing or supporting" GST once its debts are paid.

Among the athletes owed money, according to GST's bankruptcy filings are Olympic champions Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (US$268,750), Gabby Thomas (US$185,625) and Marileidy Paulino (US$173,125).

The founder of the league, Olympic gold medallist Michael Johnson, is also owed more than $2 million from a loan he made to the league before its third, and ultimately final, event in Philadelphia last spring.

The next hearing in the bankruptcy case is scheduled for Wednesday.

- AP