Michael Johnson to give back alleged $500,000 ‘secret’ payment from Grand Slam Track

Michael Johnson is to return a $500,000 payment he was alleged to have received “secretly” in the days before Grand Slam Track (GST) collapsed , in a new proposed deal between the league and its creditors. A legal filing made at a US court alleged the former Olympic champion took out the $500k eight days before GST filed for bankruptcy , and while athletes were still owed millions, a claim GST said was “unfounded and false”. But a GST spokesperson has now confirmed: “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.

” As reported by the BBC , a spokesperson for Johnson also said: “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. ” The inaugural season of GST lasted just three events - in Kingston, Miami and Philadelphia - before the fourth meet in Los Angeles was cancelled when the league ran out of money.

A key sponsor, Eldridge Industries, pulled out major funding and GST filed for bankruptcy in December. It left GST owing several major athletes, including Britain’s Josh Kerr, significant sums - mainly in prize money and appearance fees. And Winners Alliance, GST’s primary funder, is reportedly owed more than $15m.

Speaking at the World Indoor Athletics Championships earlier this month, Kerr said: "Of course I’m frustrated. I’m owed a lot of money, so in any business anyone’s going to be frustrated. I don’t particularly know right now where to push those frustrations and where they should sit.