We all know that the Golden League Jackpot structure is badly flawed and unavoidably susceptible to collusion in its current form. The best (but still imperfect) way to tackle the problem, in my view, is to offer prizes of increasing value over time to athletes who knock off undefeated contenders.
Ethics aside, if you are Alison Felix and Sanya Richards says to you, "Let me have this one and I won't try to beat you next year in Beijing," what is the correct answer? Seems like a win-win. Felix stands to gain nothing from keeping Richards from $500,000 or $1,000,000. Felix will earn millions in endorsements with one or more Olympic Golds. And Richards has to see the writing on the wall. Felix will almost certainly beat her anyway next year, and 80% of the time, at least, for the rest of her career.