UK Athletics fined over $0.4mln over death of Paralympian Abdullah Hayayei

LONDON: UK Athletics was fined $0.47152 million over the death of Emirati Paralympian Abdullah Hayayei, who was killed during a training session ahead of the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships in London.

Hayayei, 36, was preparing for the championships at Newham Leisure Centre when a metal throwing cage collapsed on him. The athlete, who had represented the United Arab Emirates in the javelin and shot put events at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigations by police and health and safety authorities found that key stabilising metal lattice base plates of the discus cage were missing, leaving the structure unsafe.

UK Athletics had pleaded guilty to corporate manslaughter in February. Along with the fine, the organisation was ordered to pay £44,000 in court costs.

Keith Davies, the former head of sport for the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships, also admitted breaching health and safety regulations. The 78-year-old was sentenced to a community order and ordered to complete 175 hours of unpaid work.

“There can be no doubt that UK Athletics were grossly negligent in their safety management, which caused the death of a talented athlete,” said Colin Gibbs of the Crown Prosecution Service.

“They left equipment in a seriously unsafe condition, and Mr Hayayei’s death was wholly avoidable,” he added.

In a statement, UK Athletics expressed “deep and genuine” regret over the incident, saying the failings identified in the case should never have occurred.

The organisation said it had since focused on learning from the tragedy and strengthening safety standards and safeguards across the sport.