UK Athletics denies Paralympian's manslaughter

UK Athletics (UKA) and its erstwhile caput of athletics person pleaded not blameworthy to charges of manslaughter pursuing the decease of Paralympian Abdullah Hayayei.

Hayayei, 36, died connected 11 July 2017 aft a metallic cage fell connected him portion helium was grooming astatine Newham Leisure Centre successful eastbound London up of the World Para Athletics Championships.

At a pre-trial proceeding astatine the Old Bailey, the UKA denied a further complaint of failing to guarantee the information of non-employees, portion Keith Davies, 77, from eastbound London, denied failing to instrumentality tenable attraction for wellness and safety.

According to the charges, the changeable enactment cage that Hayayei was utilizing was allegedly erected without its "base structure".

Hayayei, who represented the United Arab Emirates astatine the Rio 2016 Paralympics, had been owed to vie successful the F34 changeable put, discus and javelin events astatine the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships successful London.

UKA was accused of having "routinely" supplied oregon provided changeable enactment and discus cages astatine events betwixt 2012 and 2017 which were "without their said basal structures".

The complaint of firm manslaughter alleged that the behaviour of the organisation's elder absorption "fell acold beneath what could reasonably beryllium expected".

It was besides alleged that betwixt October 2012 and July 2017, UKA failed successful its work to supply "safe athletics equipment" for planetary athletics and para-athletics events, including astatine contention and grooming events.

Mr Davies is accused of a "gross breach of work of care".

It is alleged that successful his relation arsenic the caput of athletics for the 2017 World Para-Athletics Championships, a cage helium "knew oregon ought to person known was provided/supplied and erected without its said basal structure".

He has besides been accused of a wellness and information astatine enactment offence, relating to supervising the proviso of discus and changeable enactment cages successful the play betwixt October 2012 and July 2017.

UKA was represented astatine the proceeding by Simon Antrobus KC, who entered the pleas connected the organisation's behalf.

Mr Davies was granted unconditional bail.

The adjacent proceeding successful the lawsuit volition beryllium astatine the Old Bailey connected 12 October 2025.

The proceedings is scheduled for December 2026 astatine the Old Bailey. It is estimated to past 8 weeks and is owed to beryllium heard by Judge Mark Lucraft KC, the Recorder of London.