BBC not planning to use Johnson in 2026 coverage

"Of course I'm frustrated - I'm owed a lot of money. In any business, anyone is going to be frustrated [with that]. I just don't particularly know right now where to push those frustrations and where they should sit. I don't think these are bad people. I'm standing with the people that I signed with. I think that they are good people. I think this is just a horrible situation."

"Johnson's Grand Slam Track league (GST) collapsed in December 2025, leaving athletes and creditors unpaid. Contracted runners were 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."

"The Association of Athletics Managers, which represents a number of competitors, said in January that GST had debts of more than $30m (22.5m). Former world 1500m champion Josh Kerr was one of the British athletes invited to be part of the league, and legal documents filed with a bankruptcy court for the US district of Delaware claim he is owed $168,750 (123,000)."

Michael Johnson's Grand Slam Track league collapsed in December 2025, leaving athletes and creditors with significant unpaid debts exceeding $30 million. The competition, which promised lucrative prize money and salaries in its inaugural season, cancelled its final event and filed for voluntary bankruptcy in the US. British athletes including Josh Kerr, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Daryll Neita, and Dina Asher-Smith are owed substantial sums ranging from $24,500 to $168,750. Johnson, who has been a BBC pundit since 2001, has not worked for the broadcaster since Paris 2024 Olympics and will not appear in BBC athletics coverage during 2026. Despite the financial crisis, some athletes expressed understanding toward those involved, characterizing the situation as unfortunate rather than malicious.

Read at www.bbc.com