UK Athletics Charged with Manslaughter in Paralympian's Death from Falling Metal Cage at World Championships
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01/09/2025 03:25 PM
United Arab Emirates Paralympian Abdullah Hayayei died when a metal cage fell on him while training for the World Championships in London
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Abdullah HayayeiThe UK Athletics and a 77-year-old man have been charged with manslaughter stemming from the 2017 death of a United Arab Emirates Paralympian.
The Crown Prosecution Service announced charges Thursday, Jan. 9 against UK Athletics — the governing body of sports in the United Kingdom — and Keith Davies, the former Head of Sport at the organization, in connection with Abdullah Hayayei's 2017 death.
Hayayei died when a metal throwing cage fell on him while he was training for the shot put World Championship competition at the Newham Leisure Centre in London on July 11, 2017. The UAE Paralympian was 36 years old.
The UAE athlete was scheduled to compete in the F34 shot put, discus and javelin events at the upcoming World Championships that year, according to BBC.
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Abdullah HayayeiHayayei was a father of five, the outlet reported. He made his debut at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he finished sixth place in the javelin competition and seventh place in shot put.
The World Championships took place three days later, after Hayayei's death.
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"UK Athletics Ltd has been charged with corporate manslaughter and a Health and Safety at Work Act offence," Malcolm McHaffie, the Head of the CPS Special Crime Division, announced in a news release Thursday. "Keith Davies, the former Head of Sport at UK Athletics Ltd, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter and a Health and Safety at Work Act offence."
Davies is accused of "gross negligence manslaughter and failing to discharge general health and safety duty at work," McHaffie added.
Both Davies and his former employer are scheduled to appear at the Westminster Magistrates' Court on Jan. 31.
