UK Athletics pleads guilty to corporate manslaughter
BBC World
February 20, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
UK Athletics has pleaded guilty to corporate manslaughter following the death of Paralympian Abdullah Hayayei, who was killed in 2017 when a metal cage fell on him during training at Newham Leisure Centre in London. The organization initially denied the charge but entered a fresh plea of guilt during an Old Bailey hearing in March 2025. Keith Davies, former head of sport for the 2017 World Para-athletics Championships, also pleaded guilty to a health and safety charge, marking a significant shift from his earlier denial of gross negligence manslaughter.
The case highlights the tragic circumstances surrounding Hayayei’s death at the age of 36 during training for the World Para-athletics Championships. Prosecutors requested a two-day sentencing hearing in early June to address the charges, with no trial scheduled as the案件 will be resolved during sentencing. Davies, 78, was granted bail pending the outcome of a pre-sentence report.
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Originally published on BBC World on 2/20/2026