By our reporter 2.6.2026
Following the death of paralympic shot-put thrower Abudullah Hayayei during training a court has ordered the UK Athletics to pay £350,000 (about N658m) in fine and £44,000 (about N75.2m) in costs.
According to BBC reports Hayayei died after a throwing cage collapsed on him training in east London. The Old Bailey passed the sentence on Tuesday, after UK Athletics pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the incident that occurred in 2017 while the athlete representing the United Arab Emirate was training for the World Athletics Championships.
Judge Richard Marks KC described the circumstances as “tragic, untimely and wholly avoidable,” telling the court that the fatal collapse was an accident that was “waiting to happen.”
The court heard that the metal throwing cage collapsed after a strong gust of wind, with investigators finding that key base plates had not been fitted when the structure was assembled. Hayayei, who was a 36-year-old wheelchair user living with cerebral palsy, died from head injuries after being struck by a heavy metal bar.
Former UK Athletics head of sport Keith Davies was also sentenced, receiving a 175-hour community service order after admitting breaches of health and safety law linked to his responsibility for the equipment.
Abudullah Hayayei...tragic death.