GST athletes deny Johnson claim they have been paid

Four-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson's claim that athletes participating in Grand Slam Track events were paid by the GST organization has been disputed. Despite GST founder Johnson's assertion that the athletes were compensated after financial troubles, agents and sports-management companies report that athletes have yet to receive their promised payments.

Johnson launched GST in 2025, promising lucrative prize money and salaries for participating athletes. The final event in Los Angeles was cancelled, and GST's organizers voluntarily filed for bankruptcy in the US in December. Johnson admitted to using his own credit card to cover athlete flights and hotel rooms due to significant cash-flow issues, but emphasized that he reimbursed the credit card expenditure.

Johnson denied allegations that he secretly paid himself $500,000 just before the season collapsed, stating that the reimbursement was intended for his credit card expenses. However, a company acting on behalf of the athletes maintains that they have not received any payments or been informed of their due dates. It is unclear when the athletes will receive their overdue payments, which total $11 million, currently held by a third party.