UK Athletics has been charged with corporate manslaughter over the death of a Paralympic shotputter while he was training at an east London leisure centre. Abdullah Hayayei, 36, who hails from the United Arab Emirates, died when a metal throwing cage fell on to him during a training session in Newham on July 11, 2017.
The Crown Prosecution Service and the Metropolitan Police announced on Wednesday that UK Athletics, the governing body for athletics in this country, has been charged with corporate manslaughter and an alleged health and safety breach. Former Head of Sport at UK Athletics Ltd Keith Davies is also charged alongside the governing body, facing allegations of gross negligence manslaughter and a health and safety breach.
Mr Hayayei was in training for the 2017 World Paralympic Athletics Championships at the time of his death. Scotland Yard said its detectives began an investigation after receiving reports of a man being seriously injured when he was struck on the head by a metal pole at Newham Leisure Centre in Prince Regent Lane, Canning Town.
Davies, from Leytonstone, was acting as head of sport for the World Championships competition, which was hosted by the UK between July 14 and 23, 2017. He and representatives for UK Athletics are due to appear at Westminster magistrates court on January 31 to face the charges for the first time.
“Following a review of the evidence provided by the Metropolitan Police Service, the Crown Prosecution Service has authorised criminal charges against UK Athletics Limited and a 77-year-old man following the death of United Arab Emirates Paralympian Abdullah Hayayei”, said Malcolm McHaffie, Head of the CPS Special Crime Division.
