UK Athletics charged over death of Paralympian

UK Athletics and a 77-year-old man have both been charged with manslaughter following the death of a Paralympian who was hit on the head by a metal pole during training in 2017, British police said Wednesday.

Abdullah Hayayei, 36, who represented the United Arab Emirates, was pronounced dead at the scene at Newham Leisure Centre in east London on July 11, 2017.

He was training in preparation to represent his country in discus, javelin and shot put at the World Para Athletics Championships in London when part of a throwing cage fell on him.

London's Metropolitan Police said UK Athletics Limited, the national governing body for the sport in Britain, had been charged with corporate manslaughter and health and safety offences.

Keith Davies, head of sport for the 2017 World Paralympic Athletics Championships, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter health and safety offences.

UK Athletics and Davies are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court in central London on January 31.

A spokeswoman for UKA told AFP the organisation "will not be making any statement at this time due to the upcoming proceedings".