Sebastian Coe has expressed concern over unpaid athlete payments from Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track series, with the World Athletics president calling the situation “not good”. The series, which launched with a $12.6m prize fund, cancelled its final leg in Los Angeles last month due to low spectator numbers, leaving some athletes awaiting six-figure sums.
“There is no point in pretending this is a satisfactory situation,” Coe said. He emphasised that World Athletics stands firmly behind athletes, adding: “For these things to work, they can’t be vanity projects. They have to be suffused in practicality and deliverability.”
Grand Slam Track champions received $100,000 per meeting plus appearance fees, with British athletes Matthew Hudson-Smith and Josh Kerr among winners. While Grand Slam Track declined to comment, agents have been told that Kingston payments will be made this month and later meeting fees by the end of September. Some athletes have already received appearance money from the opening event.
Coe confirmed World Athletics is monitoring the situation but stopped short of detailing intervention, saying: “Let’s just watch this space.” He reiterated support for privately funded events, noting that the sport needs “additional attraction” and that World Athletics is not a “command-and-control federation”.
Separately, Coe confirmed that World Athletics will introduce DNA tests for all elite female athletes before September’s world championships. The non-invasive cheek swab or dry blood test aims to “guarantee the integrity of female women’s sport” and will begin once council regulations are finalised.
