Michael Johnson will not be part of the BBC’s coverage of the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, as financial turmoil continues to engulf his new athletics league.
The four-time Olympic gold medallist has been a regular face on the BBC’s athletics team since 2001, providing expert analysis at major championships for more than two decades.
But viewers will not see the 57-year-old on their screens this September, with his absence linked to mounting difficulties surrounding his Grand Slam Track project.
The breakaway athletics league, which launched earlier this year with promises of unprecedented prize money for competitors, has struggled badly to meet those commitments.
Michael Johnson will not be part of the BBC’s coverage of the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, as financial turmoil continues to engulf his new athletics league
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Reports have confirmed that several athletes have yet to receive payment on time, while the series has been hit by a collapse in revenue.
Johnson had pledged sizeable rewards, including appearance fees for registered racers and as much as £74,000 ($100,000) for event winners at each of the four scheduled meets.
The fund was expected to total more than £8.8m ($12m).
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But after the opening round in Jamaica drew sparse crowds and limited broadcast and sponsorship income, the financial model has unravelled.
In a candid admission, Johnson said: “We promised that athletes would be fairly and quickly compensated.
"Yet here we are struggling with our ability to compensate them.”
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Michael Johnson's Grand Slam Track has encountered difficulties behind the scenes
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The Times revealed this week that Johnson will not feature in the BBC’s coverage of the World Championships.
The broadcaster declined to offer a reason for his absence, while a spokesperson for Johnson said: “He has other commitments unfortunately but is looking forward to working with the BBC in the future.”
Grand Slam Track was billed as a game-changer for athletics, aiming to offer greater financial incentives and commercial appeal in a sport often overshadowed by global football and other major events.
Instead, the fledgling series has become mired in controversy, with frustrated athletes left waiting for promised payments and sponsors hesitant to invest further.
Johnson’s long-standing presence on BBC coverage will be missed during the Tokyo championships, with the broadcaster now expected to rely on its existing team of analysts and commentators.
The athletics legend remains the only male sprinter in history to claim both the 200m and 400m titles at a single Olympic Games, achieving the remarkable double at Atlanta in 1996.
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Michael Johnson established himself as one of the greatest sprinters during his athletics career
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He later cemented his legacy by becoming the first man to retain the 400m crown, successfully defending his title four years later at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
Beyond his Olympic triumphs, Johnson also excelled on the World Championship stage, where he captured eight gold medals.
That tally places him level with Carl Lewis for the fourth-highest total by a track athlete.