Johnson to give back alleged ‘secret’ payment of $500,000

Johnson to give back alleged ‘secret’ payment of $500,000Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Michael Johnson won gold medals at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 OlympicsByJane DougallBBC Sports Correspondent Published56 minutes agoFour-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson has validated he will refund a sum of $500,000 (£375,000) he allegedly “secretly” paid himself just days before his Grand Slam Track (GST) league collapsed.Three GST events were held – in Kingston, Miami and Philadelphia – before the project folded in December 2025.Contracted runners had been promised lucrative prize money and salaries in the competition’s inaugural season, but the final event was cancelled and organisers later voluntarily filed for bankruptcy in the US.A legal filing in Delaware by vendors claiming against Johnson and GST includes an accusation that eight days before the collapse, he “secretly” paid himself $500,000 (£375,000). GST called that accusation “unfounded and false”.A GST spokesperson stated: “While Mr Johnson has been clear that the $500k was a reimbursement and not a payment, to avoid disruption and continue moving forward he and Winners Alliance have agreed to fund the $500k to the plan so that all creditors can benefit and receive a greater distribution in connection with the company’s reorganisation and efforts to resurrect the league.”In May 2025, Johnson put $2.25m (£1.68m) into the business, after Eldridge Industries decided not to invest $40m (£30m).Johnson’s spokesperson stated: “Michael has asserted defences to the claim, including that this was a partial reimbursement of over $2m (£1.5m) of expenses advances by Michael for the benefit of the athletes.”Grand Slam Track risks ‘dangerous precedent’ over debts