The Australian Cycling Federation has decided to ban Matthew Richardson, three times medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, from its selections for life for having decided to join Great Britain.
Cold war in the highly competitive world of track cycling. Matt Richardson has been banned for life from representing Australia after deciding to join the British team just weeks after winning three Olympic track medals in green and gold, the Australian Cycling Federation (AusCycling) announced on Monday. The 25-year-old runner won silver in the individual sprint and keirin, as well as bronze in the team sprint at the 2024 Paris Games in August.
Richardson left with equipment for Great Britain
But Richardson, who was born in England before moving to Australia aged nine, announced after the Olympics that he was switching competitive allegiances. Australia's governing body for cycling ruled after an investigation that his behavior was “in conflict with the values of AusCycling, the Australian national team and the wider cycling community”. Consequently, he will never be able to rejoin the Australian cycling team, in case he wants to change his sporting nationality again in the future.
In its press release, the Australian Federation ignites its former cyclist, the International Federation (UCI) but also the British Federation for having carried out this “transfer” behind the scenes. “Richardson has asked the International Cycling Union (UCI) to delay the official disclosure of his change of nationality until after the Olympic Games,” laments the press release which relates the conclusions of the investigation. “This request was supported by British Cycling. “He also hid his decision from AusCycling, his teammates and key stakeholders before the Games. “
The Federation also accuses him of having left Australia with expensive equipment before announcing his departure. A “war take” very badly experienced in a world where each team spies on the technological benefits of the adversaries. “After the Games, but before announcing his decision, Richardson asked to take AusCycling's belongings, including a custom-made bicycle, cockpit and Olympic racing suit, with him to Britain. This represented an unacceptable risk for AusCycling’s intellectual property.”
Revealing his “personal choice” in August, Richardson said changing his nationality had been “a difficult decision” and that he had “not taken it lightly”. The cyclist won two gold medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and has five medals at the World Championships, including team sprint gold in 2022. Richardson is, for the moment, banned from representing Great Britain until 'to 2025. He therefore did not compete in the last world championships.
