UK Athletics has been handed a £350,000 fine after pleading guilty to corporate manslaughter in the death of Paralympian Abdullah Hayayei. The 36-year-old athlete, representing the United Arab Emirates, was fatally injured on July 11, 2017, when a shot-put cage collapsed on him during training at the Newham Leisure Centre in east London.
The court heard that essential stabilising metal lattice base plates, described as "ladder like metal connectors," were missing from the discus cage for approximately five years leading up to the incident. Investigators found that these components were crucial for the cage's stability, particularly against wind forces. The collapse was deemed "wholly avoidable," with the Crown Prosecution Service stating UK Athletics was "grossly negligent" in its safety management.
Keith Davies, former head of sport for the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships, was also charged. He received a community order with 175 hours of unpaid work for gross negligence manslaughter and a Health and Safety at Work Act offence. The judge, Richard Marks KC, characterised the incident as "tragic, untimely and wholly avoidable."
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Hayayei, who had cerebral palsy and used a wheelchair, was preparing for the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships at the time of his death. His widow, Badriah, shared with the court how his passing has left her to raise their five young children alone.
UK Athletics expressed being "deeply and genuinely sorry" for the events. The organisation acknowledged its ownership of the cage and responsibility for its safety. The fine was determined to be a sum that would penalise the organisation without unduly compromising its ability to support athletics at elite and community levels.
