UK Athletics has been fined £350,000 for the corporate manslaughter of a Paralympian who was killed when a shot-put cage collapsed on him in 2017.

Abdullah Hayayei, 36, of the United Arab Emirates, was practising in Lewisham, London ahead of the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships when a metal cage collapsed during strong winds and struck his head.

UK Athletics and Keith Davies, the former head of sport for those World Championships, were charged in January 2025 — UK Athletics with corporate manslaughter and Davies with gross negligence manslaughter and a Health and Safety at Work Act offence.

UK Athletics and Davies had previously pleaded guilty to the charges, with their sentences confirmed on Tuesday by the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Davies received a community order of 175 hours of unpaid work, while UK Athletics was also ordered to pay £44,000 in court costs.

A Metropolitan Police investigation found that “the stabilising metal lattice base plates of the discus cage were missing” and “these components — 10 ladder like metal connectors linking the cage’s bases and posts — had been missing or unused for around five years, between 2012 and 2017, significantly reducing stability”, the CPS said.

“Abdullah Hayayei was a father of five who should have been able to compete on the world stage and return home safely to his family,” Colin Gibbs, senior specialist prosecutor with the CPS special crime division, said.

“There can be no doubt that UK Athletics were grossly negligent in their safety management, which caused the death of a talented athlete.

“They left equipment in a seriously unsafe condition, and Mr Hayayei’s death was wholly avoidable — a fact the organisation has admitted.”

UK Athletics said in a statement that it extended “our sincere condolences to Abdullah Hayayei’s family, friends and to everyone affected by this tragedy.”

“The failings identified in this case should never have happened, and UK Athletics is deeply and genuinely sorry for what occurred and for the impact it has had on all those affected,” the statement said.

“Since then, substantial changes have been made to strengthen the way safety, governance and event operations are managed across the sport. While nothing can undo what happened, there has been a determined focus on learning from these events and ensuring stronger standards and safeguards are in place throughout athletics.

“We respectfully accept the Court’s decision today and remain committed to continuing that work with the seriousness and responsibility this case demands.”

Hayayei competed at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, finishing sixth in the javelin and seventh in the shot put. He was survived by five children.