UK Athletics fined following conclusion of proceedings relating to 2017 athlete fatality

UK Athletics (UKA) has been fined £350,000 and ordered to pay £44,000 in costs after pleading guilty to corporate manslaughter following the death of Abdullah Hayayei, a 36-year-old Emirati Paralympian and father of five. Hayayei, who competed in javelin, shot put and discus in the F34 classification, was fatally struck on the head by a metal pole from a throwing cage while training at Newham Leisure Centre in East London on July 11, 2017. Investigations found that 10 metal connectors linking the cage's bases and posts had not been used for approximately five years prior to the incident, which the court described as 'wholly avoidable'.