UK Athletics facing huge fine after tragic death of Paralympic star

Nearly nine years after the tragedy, UK Athletics has pleaded guilty to corporate manslaughter, while former championships head of sport Keith Davies has admitted a health and safety offence.

Sentencing proceedings are due to begin at the Old Bailey on Monday and are expected to last two days.

Under sentencing guidelines, organisations convicted of corporate manslaughter can face fines ranging from £180,000 to as much as £20million, depending on the severity of the offence and the financial circumstances of the company involved.

Hayayei had been preparing to compete at the World Para Athletics Championships, which were due to begin in London just days later.

The athlete was set to represent the United Arab Emirates in the F34 classification across the discus, javelin and shot put events.

Emergency services were called to the scene following the incident, but Hayayei was pronounced dead despite efforts to save life.

Subsequent investigations revealed that the throwing cage had not been assembled correctly and was left in an unstable condition before training began.

The collapse proved fatal.

Prosecutors say the death was entirely preventable and stemmed from serious failures in safety management.

According to the Crown Prosecution Service, the equipment had not been properly inspected or maintained, leaving a heavy metal structure dangerously unstable.

Colin Gibbs, from the CPS, said: "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.

"They left equipment in a seriously unsafe condition and Mr Hayayei's death was wholly avoidable – a fact the organisation has admitted.

"For years there was a failure to inspect, maintain and properly manage basic safety components, leaving a heavy metal structure dangerously unstable."

The prosecution follows an extensive investigation by the Metropolitan Police, which spent years examining the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Detectives reviewed more than 1,500 documents, gathered approximately 160 witness statements and spoke to more than 80 people as part of the inquiry.

Specialist engineering experts were also brought in to establish exactly how the structure failed and identify the chain of events that led to Hayayei's death.

The Metropolitan Police described the conviction as the result of a detailed and meticulous investigation involving significant technical expertise.

UK Athletics has previously expressed regret over the incident.

In an earlier statement, the governing body said: "UK Athletics deeply regrets the incident.

"Our deepest thoughts and sympathy remain with his family, friends, team-mates and all those affected by the events of that day."

The case has placed renewed scrutiny on the organisation, which serves as the national governing body for athletics in the United Kingdom.

Latest financial accounts covering the year to March 2025 showed UK Athletics generated annual revenues of £13.8million, largely through grants and commercial sponsorship agreements.

However, much of that income is offset by operating expenditure, meaning any substantial financial penalty could have significant consequences for the organisation.