UK Athletics Pleads Guilty to Corporate Manslaughter Over Paralympian's Fatal Accident
UK Athletics has formally entered a guilty plea to corporate manslaughter charges following the tragic death of Paralympian Abdullah Hayayei in London nearly a decade ago. The 36-year-old athlete from the United Arab Emirates was fatally injured at Newham Leisure Centre in 2017 when a section of a metal throwing cage collapsed and struck him on the head during training.
Gross Negligence in Safety Management
During proceedings at the Old Bailey, UK Athletics admitted to corporate manslaughter while senior manager Keith Davies, identified as the organization's 'Head of Sport', separately pleaded guilty to a Health and Safety at Work Act offence. The Crown Prosecution Service revealed that investigators found the discus activity management was grossly negligent, with the throwing cage missing its essential stabilising base.
Colin Gibbs, senior specialist prosecutor with the CPS special crime division, stated: "Abdullah Hayayei was a father of five who should have been able to compete on the world stage and return home safely to his family. There can be no doubt that UK Athletics were grossly negligent in their safety management, which caused the death of a talented athlete."
Systemic Safety Failures Uncovered
The prosecution detailed how UK Athletics maintained equipment in a seriously unsafe condition for years, failing to conduct proper inspections, maintenance, and basic safety management. Gibbs emphasized that "the risk of death was obvious, serious, and longstanding" and that "the risk could have been prevented by following instructions, using a stabilising base or preventing use of the cage without it."
Hayayei, an accomplished shot putter, was training with equipment commonly found at athletics tracks across the country when the fatal incident occurred. The Metropolitan Police investigation determined that the heavy metal structure had been left dangerously unstable due to prolonged organizational failures.
Avoidable Tragedy with Lasting Impact
"They left equipment in a seriously unsafe condition, and Mr Hayayei's death was wholly avoidable – a fact the organisation has admitted," Gibbs continued. "For years there was a failure to inspect, maintain and properly manage basic safety components."
The Crown Prosecution Service expressed hope that the convictions would provide some measure of justice for Hayayei's grieving family, stating: "Our thoughts remain with Mr Hayayei's family, and we hope these convictions bring them some measure of justice."
This case represents one of the most significant safety failures in British sporting history, highlighting critical gaps in equipment maintenance and athlete protection protocols within national sporting bodies.
