UK Athletics Admits Paralympian Hayayei Death 2026​

Key Points

• UK Athletics Ltd, the national governing body for athletics, admitted corporate manslaughter at the Old Bailey on Friday for the death of Paralympian Abdullah Hayayei.
• Abdullah Hayayei, aged 36 and representing the United Arab Emirates in the F34 class for discus, javelin, and shot put, died after being fatally injured by a collapsing metal pole at Newham Leisure Centre in east London in 2017.
• The incident occurred while Hayayei was practising shot put ahead of the World Para Athletics Championships in London.
• The charge specified that UK Athletics supplied and operated a discus/shot put cage without its base structure, which collapsed onto Hayayei.
• Teams and coaches from several nations were present at the Newham Leisure Centre during the training session.
• UK Athletics had previously denied the corporate manslaughter charge before admitting guilt.
• Keith Davies, head of sport for the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships, pleaded guilty to a related health and safety charge.
• Prosecutor Karen Robinson requested a two-day sentencing hearing in early June, confirming no trial would be sought.
• In a statement, UK Athletics expressed deep regret, stating their “deepest thoughts and sympathy remain with his family, friends, teammates and all those affected by the events of that day,” while noting inability to comment further due to ongoing proceedings.

Newham (East London Times) February 20, 2026 – UK Athletics Ltd has admitted corporate manslaughter in a long-running case over the tragic death of Paralympian Abdullah Hayayei, who was struck on the head by a collapsing metal pole during a training session nine years ago.

The admission came at the Old Bailey on Friday, marking a significant development after years of legal proceedings. Hayayei, a 36-year-old athlete from the United Arab Emirates competing in the F34 classification for field events including discus, javelin, and shot put, suffered fatal injuries at Newham Leisure Centre while preparing for the World Para Athletics Championships in London.

What Happened at Newham Leisure Centre in 2017?

The incident unfolded during a routine training session at the east London facility, a venue hosting multiple international teams. As detailed in the charge, UK Athletics supplied for use a discus/shot put cage that lacked its essential base structure, leading to its collapse onto Hayayei as he practised shot put. Teams and coaches from several nations witnessed the tragedy, underscoring the high-profile nature of the preparations for the championships.

Originally reported by Sky News correspondents, the cage failure directly caused Hayayei’s death, with the Paralympian representing the United Arab Emirates in a competitive field event category. The prosecution’s case centred on the organisation’s failure to ensure the equipment’s safety, a point now conceded by UK Athletics following an initial denial of the charge.

Why Did UK Athletics Admit Corporate Manslaughter?

UK Athletics Ltd pleaded guilty to the corporate manslaughter charge at the Old Bailey, shifting from their earlier position of denial. This admission acknowledges their responsibility for supplying and operating the defective cage at Newham Leisure Centre. Prosecutor Karen Robinson, addressing the court, invited a two-day sentencing hearing in early June and confirmed the prosecution would not pursue a trial, indicating a resolution focused on accountability.

The body’s statement, as covered across multiple outlets including Sky News, reflected remorse:

“Our deepest thoughts and sympathy remain with his family, friends, teammates and all those affected by the events of that day.”

It further noted,

“As you will appreciate, due to the ongoing court proceedings, UK Athletics is unable to comment any further at this time,”

highlighting the legal constraints at play.

Who Is Keith Davies and What Was His Role?

Keith Davies, identified as the head of sport for the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships, also entered a guilty plea to a health and safety offence connected to the incident. His involvement stemmed from oversight responsibilities during the event preparations at the Newham venue. As reported in court proceedings detailed by Sky News journalists, Davies’s admission aligns with the broader accountability now accepted by UK Athletics.

Prosecutor Karen Robinson’s submissions to the court encompassed Davies’s plea, reinforcing the linked failures in safety protocols. This development closes a chapter on individual liability within the organisational framework of the championships.

When and Where Did the Incident Take Place?

The fatal accident occurred in 2017 at Newham Leisure Centre in east London, a facility bustling with international athletes ahead of the World Para Athletics Championships. Hayayei was specifically training in shot put within the F34 class, events where he aimed to represent the United Arab Emirates on a global stage. The venue’s role as a training hub for multiple nations amplified the incident’s impact, as noted in initial Sky News coverage linking to the Paralympian’s death.

The charge explicitly references the cage’s collapse during this practice, without its base structure, directly into Hayayei. This east London location, now central to the case, hosted teams and coaches from several countries at the time.

How Has UK Athletics Responded to the Tragedy?

UK Athletics issued a statement deeply regretting the incident, as quoted verbatim in Sky News reports:

“Our deepest thoughts and sympathy remain with his family, friends, teammates and all those affected by the events of that day.”

The organisation emphasised their ongoing sympathy while adhering to court protocol by limiting further commentary.

Having previously denied the charge, the admission represents a pivotal concession after nearly a decade. The body’s status as the national governing body for athletics places this case under intense scrutiny regarding equipment standards and safety in para-sports.

What Are the Next Steps in the Legal Proceedings?

Prosecutor Karen Robinson proposed a two-day sentencing hearing in early June, a timeline endorsed by the court. She confirmed explicitly that the prosecution would not seek a trial, streamlining the process towards sentencing for both UK Athletics and Keith Davies. This follows the guilty pleas entered on Friday at the Old Bailey.

The hearings will determine penalties for the corporate manslaughter conviction and the associated health and safety breach. Coverage from Sky News highlights this as a conclusive phase, sparing further litigation.

Who Was Abdullah Hayayei and What Was He Training For?

Abdullah Hayayei, 36, hailed from the United Arab Emirates and competed in the F34 class, encompassing discus, javelin, and shot put at the Paralympic level. He was actively preparing for the World Para Athletics Championships in London when the accident occurred. Initial reporting by Sky News described him as a Paralympian fatally injured in a training mishap at Newham Leisure Centre.

His presence among international teams underscores his stature in the sport. The tragedy cut short his participation in what was set to be a prominent championship appearance.

Why Is This Case Significant for UK Athletics?

This admission by UK Athletics Ltd marks a rare instance of corporate manslaughter liability in a sports context, spotlighting equipment safety in high-stakes para-athletics events. The national governing body’s reversal from denial to guilt carries implications for governance and risk management in publicly funded sports organisations. Keith Davies’s parallel plea as head of sport amplifies the focus on leadership accountability during the 2017 championships.

The case, unfolding at the Old Bailey, draws from detailed prosecutorial charges about the cage’s operational state. UK Athletics’ statement of regret, while restrained, acknowledges the profound loss to Hayayei’s family, friends, teammates, and the wider community affected.

What Safety Lessons Emerge from the Incident?

The charge’s emphasis on the missing base structure of the discus/shot put cage reveals critical lapses in equipment maintenance and inspection protocols. With multiple nations’ teams present, the incident exposed vulnerabilities in shared training environments like Newham Leisure Centre. Prosecutor Karen Robinson’s court invitation for structured sentencing underscores a push for formal repercussions to enforce future compliance.

UK Athletics’ deep regret, as expressed in their statement, signals an intent to reflect internally, though legal silence prevails for now. Hayayei’s death, after representing the United Arab Emirates so diligently, serves as a stark reminder of health and safety imperatives in elite para-sports.