Linford Christie, Roger Black, Colin Jackson and Sally Gunnell were left among the creditors as the British Athletic Federation collapsed yesterday with debts of more than £1 million. The top athletes face the prospect of not being paid for their efforts at British meetings last summer following the national governing body's decision to call in the administrators to run the company after admitting they were losing £4,500 a day and on the verge of bankruptcy.

David Moorcroft, appointed as the BAF's £70,000 a year chief executive less than two weeks ago, is among 36 officials employed by the BAF who face losing their jobs.

Also under threat are big international meetings at Sheffield and Gateshead organised by the BAF and all money to the grass roots. But one thing not affected is the National Lottery funding to Britain's elite athletes.