World Athletics has made it clear that any recognition, licensing, or support for the rebirth of the Grand Slam Track (GST) series — or any equivalent elite professional track circuit — in 2026 will depend on strict compliance with its standards for financial integrity, athlete protection, and adherence to global competition regulations.
- Financial Obligations Must Be Settled
At the heart of World Athletics’ position is a firm requirement that all outstanding debts and contractual obligations from the league’s previous season be fully discharged before any future support is considered. These include:
• Payments owed to athletes for appearance fees and prize money from the 2025 season.
• Settlements with vendors, service providers, and other creditors associated with the league’s operations.
World Athletics has publicly stated that it will only consider licensing or supporting any future Grand Slam Track events once those debts are cleared. 
This stance follows the GST’s 2025 season collapse, which resulted in bankruptcy protection filing and liabilities exceeding $40 million. 
- Fair Treatment of Athletes at the Core
World Athletics emphasises that athletes who competed in good faith must be treated fairly and paid what they are owed before any new licensing or support is granted. This reflects the federation’s broader commitment to athlete welfare and sustainable commercial practices in the sport. 
Several elite competitors — including Olympic champions such as Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas and Marileidy Paulino — remain among those still owed significant sums from the 2025 GST season, and these unresolved liabilities are central to World Athletics’ reservations. 
- World Ranking and Competition Standards
Although the original GST events were held outside World Athletics’ direct governance, the federation had supported athletes’ results for global ranking purposes when the series was running. Any future support or official licensing would likely depend on the event’s ability to meet World Athletics’ competition standards, including:
• Compliance with official competition rules and anti-doping regulations.
• Sanctioning of events on the World Athletics calendar.
• Technical and logistical standards for track events to ensure fairness and record legitimacy.
World Athletics’ guidance for other events — such as listing on the global calendar or counting performances for rankings and championships — generally requires events to be authorised by the federation or its member national bodies and to follow official rules and licensing procedures. 
- Broader Context: Athletics Governance and Innovation
The GST initiative was originally designed to offer a new professional platform for elite track competition, with high prize money and a condensed format aimed at drawing global attention. However, its financial struggles and abrupt cancellation of events — including the final 2025 leg in Los Angeles — raised questions over its sustainability and governance. 
World Athletics’ current position reflects a cautious approach to innovation in track and field: while the federation is open to supporting high-profile events that grow the sport, it insists such ventures demonstrate sound business models and uphold obligations to athletes and stakeholders.
- What This Means for the 2026 Season
For any organisation — whether the original GST group or a new promoter — to obtain World Athletics licensing or endorsement for a 2026 elite track meet series, it must:
• Fully resolve all past financial obligations from previous competitions.
• Submit to established licensing criteria set by World Athletics, including financial, legal, and technical standards.
• Demonstrate compliance with athlete welfare and competition integrity policies upheld by the sport’s global governing body.
Until these benchmarks are met, World Athletics has indicated it will not support or sanction a return of the Grand Slam Track series or similar events
