Headlines
UK Athletics pleads guilty over 2017 death of Paralympic athlete
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 20, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 20, 2026
Quick Summary
UK Athletics pleaded guilty to corporate manslaughter over Paralympian Abdullah Hayayei’s 2017 training death in London. Event official Keith Davies also admitted a safety offence. Sentencing is due in June.
UK Athletics Admits Corporate Manslaughter in 2017 Paralympian’s Death
Guilty Plea and Case Overview
LONDON, Feb 20 (Reuters) - UK Athletics on Friday pleaded guilty to corporate manslaughter over the death of Abdullah Hayayei, who was killed in 2017 while the Paralympic athlete was training in London.
Details of the 2017 Training Incident
Hayayei, from the United Arab Emirates, was preparing for the 2017 World Paralympic Athletics Championships at the Newham Leisure Centre when a metal throwing cage fell on him.
Victim’s Background
The 36-year-old athlete — who had made his debut in the javelin and shot put at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro — was pronounced dead at the scene.
Charges and Change of Plea
UK Athletics was charged last year with corporate manslaughter and the organisation had pleaded not guilty, with a trial due to take place later this year.
But UK Athletics changed its plea to guilty on Friday, with its lawyer Simon Antrobus entering the plea on the organisation's behalf.
Other Offences and Individuals
The head of sport for the 2017 World Paralympic Athletics Championships Keith Davies, 78, also pleaded guilty to an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Sentencing Timeline
UK Athletics and Davies are expected to be sentenced in June.
UK Athletics’ Statement
The organisation offered its deepest sympathy to his family and teammates in a statement.
"UK Athletics deeply regrets that the incident in July 2017 resulted in the tragic loss of Abdullah Hayayei’s life," the statement said.
(Reporting by Sam Tobin; editing by Sarah Young)
Key Takeaways
- •UK Athletics pleaded guilty to corporate manslaughter over the 2017 death of Paralympian Abdullah Hayayei.
- •Hayayei was killed when a metal throwing cage fell during training at Newham Leisure Centre in London.
- •The athlete, 36, from the UAE, competed at the 2016 Rio Paralympics in javelin and shot put.
- •Event official Keith Davies, 78, also pleaded guilty to a Health and Safety at Work Act offence.
- •Sentencing for UK Athletics and Davies is expected in June; the federation expressed deep regret.
Frequently Asked Questions about UK Athletics pleads guilty over 2017 death of Paralympic athlete
1What is the main topic?
UK Athletics has pleaded guilty to corporate manslaughter over the 2017 death of Paralympian Abdullah Hayayei during a training session in London.
2Who else was charged in the case?
Keith Davies, head of sport for the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships, pleaded guilty to an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
3When will sentencing take place?
Both UK Athletics and Keith Davies are expected to be sentenced in June.
