UK Athletics Admits Guilt in Death of Paralympian Abdullah Hayayei

The British national athletics organization, UK Athletics Ltd, has formally pleaded guilty to charges of corporate manslaughter. The case concerns the tragic accident on July 11, 2017, which claimed the life of Abdullah Hayayei. The 36-year-old Paralympian representing the United Arab Emirates was then preparing to compete in the F34 class at the world championships in London. During training at the Newham Leisure Centre, he was struck in the head by a metal pole that detached from the structure of a cage used for discus and shot put throws. The federation's change of stance occurred during a Friday hearing at the Old Bailey court. Although initially, in March 2025, the organization did not admit to the charges, new evidence and the course of the investigation led to the acknowledgment of responsibility for the athlete's death. Investigators determined that failures in safety procedures led to the fatal incident. The prosecution and the sports community indicate that Hayayei's tragic death was an event that could have been prevented with proper technical standards for training infrastructure. Since the 1990s, British law has progressively tightened regulations regarding the criminal liability of companies and organizations for fatal accidents, leading to the enactment of the Corporate Manslaughter Act in 2007. The financial consequences for UK Athletics could be severe. According to media reports, the organization faces a fine on the order of several million pounds. The court is considering not only the fact of negligence but also the organization's status as a governing body that should set an example in matters of protecting athletes' health and lives. The verdict in this case is intended to serve as a warning to other sports associations, emphasizing the necessity of rigorously adhering to safety standards at sports facilities, especially during events of international stature. „UK Athletics' guilty plea is a crucial step toward justice for the family of the deceased Abdullah Hayayei.” — Prosecution representative It is worth noting that the tragic event occurred just days before the scheduled start of the World Para Athletics Championships in London. Abdullah Hayayei was a respected athlete, competing in javelin, discus, and shot put. His death then shook the global Paralympic movement and sparked a broad debate on the safety of infrastructure at training centers accessible to athletes with disabilities.