PARIS, Aug 15, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The financially troubled Grand Slam Track circuit will not take place in 2026 until athletes awaiting prize money for this year are paid, its founder Michael Johnson said on Friday.

Johnson admitted in a statement "we are struggling with our ability to compensate" athletes from the three meetings that took place in 2025 in Kingston, Jamaica, Miami and Philadelphia.

The four-time Olympic sprint gold medallist said he had taken the decision to cancel the fourth and final meeting in Los Angeles "to avoid further losses and start the lengthy process of stabilising the company to get back on track.

"But unfortunately, we saw circumstances change in ways beyond our control," he said.

He added: "The 2026 season will not happen until those obligations are met -- and that is my #1 priority."

Johnson launched Grand Slam as an alternative to the Diamond League series of international meetings with an important difference -- it would only feature track events and not field events.