The double Olympic medalist Matthew Richardsonformer representative of theAustraliafinds himself at the heart of a controversy after changing his sporting nationality to represent the Great Britain. The Australian team has just announced that he is banned from the Australian team for life, because the sprinter “acted in a way that conflicts with the values of AusCycling, the Australian national team and the wider Cycling community.”
Video – Richardson in conf. press release before the Champions League
A controversial change of nationality
Matthew Richardson25, left the Australian team after the Olympic Games to reach Great Britain, his country of birth. This choice, revealed at the last minute, provoked the anger ofAusCyclingwho accuses him of having betrayed the team's values. This case raises a complex debate about the ethics, loyalty and rules of nationality changes in elite sport. As a reminder, the regulations of theUCI stipulates that a rider cannot participate in the World Championships as well as the continental ones immediately after a change of nationality, Richardson will therefore not be able to defend the colors of his new country before sometime in 2025. He can however participate in theUCI Track Champions Leaguewhere he also shone, winning two competitions during the first round.
