UK Athletics has been charged with corporate manslaughter over the death of a Paralympian who was hit on the head by a metal pole during the London World Para Athletics Championships in 2017.
Keith Davies, the head of sport for the championships, also faces charges of gross negligence manslaughter after the pole, which was attached to a discus throwing cage, fell on the thrower Abdullah Hayayei while he was training on the eve of the championships.
Both UKA and Davies have also been charged with a health and safety offence over the incident, which occurred at the Newham Leisure Centre in east London.
Emergency services were called to the venue shortly after 5pm but the 36-year-old from the United Arab Emirates was pronounced dead at the scene 20 minutes later.
Malcolm McHaffie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said: “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.
“Mr Hayayei, 36, died after a metal throwing cage fell on him while he was training for the shot put at Newham Leisure Centre in London on 11 July, 2017.
“UK Athletics Ltd has been charged with corporate manslaughter and a Health and Safety at Work Act offence,” he added. “Keith Davies, the former head of sport [for the championships] at UK Athletics Ltd, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter and a Health and Safety at Work Act offence.”
UK Athletics and Davies will appear at Westminster magistrates’ court on 31 January.
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Hayayei had been preparing to participate in the F34 shot put, discus and javelin events at London 2017. At the Rio 2016 Olympics, Hayayei finished sixth in the javelin F34 and seventh in the shot put F34. The father of five had finished fifth in the discus and eighth in shot put at the 2015 World Championships in Doha.
Speaking after the incident, London 2017 co-chairman Ed Warner said. “This is a devastating event and everyone within the London 2017 Organising Committee is shocked and saddened. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of Abdullah’s family and teammates at what is undoubtedly a very difficult time for them.”
