UK Athletics has pleaded guilty to corporate manslaughter in connection with the death of Paralympian Abdullah Hayayei, almost eight years after he was killed in a training accident in London.
Hayayei, 36, died in July 2017 when a metal throwing cage collapsed during a training session at Newham Leisure Centre. He had been preparing for the 2017 World Para-athletics Championships when the incident occurred.
The governing body had initially denied the charge in March 2025. However, during a hearing at the Old Bailey on Friday, it entered a fresh guilty plea, bringing a significant turn in the long-running case.
Keith Davies, 78, who served as head of sport for the 2017 World Para-athletics Championships, also pleaded guilty to a health and safety offence. He had earlier denied a charge of gross negligence manslaughter. The prosecution confirmed that no trial would now proceed, and that all outstanding issues would be addressed during sentencing.
Davies was granted continued bail on the condition that he cooperate with the Probation Service in preparing a pre-sentence report. A two-day sentencing hearing has been scheduled for early June.
Hayayei, a father of five from the United Arab Emirates, competed in the F34 classification in shot put, discus and javelin. The London championships were set to be his second appearance at the World Para-athletics Championships.
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He made his Paralympic debut at the 2016 Summer Paralympics, where he finished sixth in the javelin and seventh in the shot put. At the 2015 World Para Athletics Championships, he placed fifth in the discus and eighth in the shot put.
Following his death, a moment of silence was observed during the opening ceremony of the 2017 championships at the London Stadium.
The guilty plea by UK Athletics marks a rare admission of corporate manslaughter within British sport and is expected to renew debate over safety standards at major international competitions. Sentencing is due in June.
