On April 2, the UK Athletics (UK Athletics) was fined £350,000 (approximately $471,000) by a court in connection with the death of UAE Paralympic athlete Abdullah Hayayei.
The incident occurred in 2017 at the Newham Sports Centre (London) while Mr. Hayayei was training for the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships. A metal throwing cage collapsed on him, killing the 36-year-old athlete instantly. He had competed at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) in javelin and shot put events.
Police and health safety investigations found that stabilizing metal grid plates of the discus cage were missing. UK Athletics pleaded guilty to corporate manslaughter in February 2025 and was fined the above amount along with £44,000 ($59,000) in court costs.
Mr. Keith Davies, 78, head of sport at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships, also pleaded guilty under the Health and Safety at Work Act. He was sentenced to 175 hours of unpaid community service.
“There can be no doubt that UK Athletics seriously failed in its safety management, leading to the death of a talented athlete,” said Mr. Colin Gibbs of the UK's Crown Prosecution Service. “They left equipment in a dangerously unsafe state, and Mr. Hayayei's death was entirely avoidable.”
UK Athletics issued a deep and sincere apology, acknowledging: “The failures identified in this case should never have happened. Although we cannot undo what has happened, we are fiercely focused on learning lessons and ensuring stronger standards and safeguards are maintained across the entire athletics system.”
