Team GB cyclist who won three medals at Paris Olympics handed lifetime ban for 'secretly' changing nationality
Yesterday at 04:33 PM
A BRITISH track cyclist has been slammed by Australia for switching allegiances – and keeping the controversial move a secret.
Matthew Richardson won three medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics – sprint silver, Keirin silver and team sprint bronze – in the green and gold colours of Australia.
Yet following the event, he transferred over to Team GB and was even involved in the UCI Track Champions League over the weekend in France.
Richardson was born in Maidstone and moved with his family to Perth aged nine.
But he is the partner of British cycling speed queen Emma Finucane.
However, AusCycling conducted a "thorough investigation" of Richardson's actions, claiming he "acted in a way which conflicted with the values" of the Australian national team and "the broader cycling community".
Their review claims Richardson asked the UCI, the world cycling body, to delay official disclosure of his nationality change until after the Olympics – a request supported by British Cycling.
They allege he "withheld news of his decision from AusCycling, his teammates, and key stakeholders" prior to travelling to the French capital.
And AusCycling has also accused Richardson of asking to take their "property" post-Games – "a custom bike, cockpit and Olympic race" suit – as he moved to the Manchester cycling HQ.
The Aussies say this "represented an unacceptable risk to AusCycling's intellectual property".
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AusCycling conclude that Richardson will not be eligible to rejoin the Australian cycling team at any point in the future and is prohibited from using any of their resources.
Sprinter Richardson, 25, will hope to compete for Britain throughout 2025 and ultimately qualify for the country of his birth at the LA 2028 Olympics.
The prospect of imposing a two-year non-competition ban – as outlined in Richardson's athlete's membership agreement – was deemed legally unenforceable.
British Cycling declined to comment when approached by SunSport.
