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02/02 11:42 CST World Athletics: 'Unconscionable' for bankrupt Grand Slam Track
to look ahead before paying bills
World Athletics: 'Unconscionable' for bankrupt Grand Slam Track to look ahead
before paying bills
By EDDIE PELLS
AP National Writer
Track and field's international federation called it "unconscionable" for the
bankrupt Grand Slam Track league to be looking into bankrolling future events
before its debts from the 2025 season are settled.
World Athletics released a statement 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.
Grand Slam Track'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 Grand Slam Track 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. WA said it would only consider "licensing or
supporting" GST once its debts are paid.
Among the athletes owed money, according to Grand Slam Track's bankruptcy
filings, are Olympic champions Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ($268,750), Gabby
Thomas ($185,625) and Marileidy Paulino ($173,125).
The founder of the league, Olympic gold medalist 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 sports: https://apnews.com/sports
