Nigerian sprint sensation Favour Ofili and several other elite athletes are reportedly still waiting to receive appearance fees and prize money owed from the inaugural season of the Grand Slam Track (GST) series, Ireport247news has gathered.
Despite participating in the high-profile meets earlier this year, multiple athletes claim they have not been paid, with outstanding amounts said to run into millions of pounds. The delay has become so concerning that some athletes and their representatives have contacted World Athletics—the global governing body for track and field—in hopes of resolving the situation.
Ofili featured in the second GST meet held at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar, USA, in May. The Louisiana State University athlete finished third in the women’s 100m with an impressive time of 10.94 seconds, behind Americans Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Tamari Davis. She also competed in the 200m event, placing fourth.
The GST series launched with much fanfare in April, kicking off at Independence Park in Kingston, Jamaica. The second and third legs took place in Miramar and at Franklin Field, Philadelphia, respectively, between May 31 and June 1.
However, the fourth and final leg—scheduled to be held in Los Angeles from June 27 to 29—was abruptly cancelled. Organisers cited poor ticket sales, insufficient broadcast revenue, and lack of sponsorship as key reasons for the cancellation. Athletes were informed during an emergency meeting shortly before the event.
According to The Times in US, “Many athletes and their representatives are yet to receive payments owed to them from Kingston and the following events, held in Miami and Philadelphia.” In response, the Association of Athletics Managers reportedly contacted GST organisers and held a Zoom meeting with Michael Johnson, the founder of the Grand Slam Track and a former Olympic and world champion.
While it is standard protocol to delay prize payments until drug testing results are finalized, appearance fees are typically paid earlier. Athletes who competed in the GST were expecting faster payments and have expressed growing frustration.
Organisers have since reached out to representatives this week, offering fresh assurances that all outstanding payments will be made.
The 2025 GST season was launched with ambitious goals and a $12.6 million (£9.2 million) prize pool. Athletes were promised up to $200,000 in appearance fees and $100,000 in prize money per round, marking it as one of the richest series in track and field history.
However, the current payment debacle has cast doubt over the future of the fledgling competition and the credibility of its management.
As the situation unfolds, athletes like Ofili—and others across the global track and field community—await not only their earnings but clarity on the future of what was once touted as a revolutionary series for the sport.