Track cyclist Matthew Richardson says his lifetime ban from Australian cycling means nothing to him

After copping a lifetime ban from Australian cycling authorities, a former Olympian, now riding for another country, has laughed it off.

Former Australian Olympic track cyclist Matthew Richardson has dismissed his lifetime ban following his defection to ride for Great Britain as “just words on a piece of paper (that) don’t carry much weight for me”.

Richardson has earnt heavy scorn after his post-Paris defection after revelations he rode for Australia at the Paris Olympics, where he won three medals, knowing he was going to change his allegiances to the country of his birth.

An AusCycling investigation resulted in the ban and strong criticism of his actions.

While Richardson, who has already begun riding in his new colours and expressed how great he feels, conceded to a bit of “shock” at the ban, he wiped it knowing it wouldn’t impact his career.

“I didn’t know it was coming. I guess they were just keen to get one last blow, a final word,” he said.

Silver medallist Matthew Richardson and Bronze medallist Matthew Glaetzer celebrate after the men's keirin in Paris. Picture: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

“I thought it was pretty obvious that by wanting to ride for GB for the rest of my career, that would mean I didn’t want to ride for Australia. It’s almost like, you leave your job, and three months later they go, ‘Yeah, well, you’re fired. Well, I already left.’

“It was just words on a piece of paper and don’t carry much weight for me.”

Richardson brushed aside claims that he had threatened AusCycling’s intellectual property by asking to take his bike with him after Paris and said he was never worried about a worldwide two-year ban despite AusCycling seeking one, as he knew it could not be enforced.

The 25-year-old, two-time Olympian said he had been “respectful” and “thankful” to AusCycling and had repaid their investment with his results.

"I thought I'd regret it for the rest of my life..." 😳

Matthew Richardson has opened up on his decision to switch his allegiance from 🇦🇺 Australia to 🇬🇧 Great Britain. #couchpeloton | #UCITCL | #trackcyclingpic.twitter.com/4t05CxfxmA

— SBS Sport (@SBSSportau) November 24, 2024

“I’ve always been respectful to AusCycling and been very thankful for everything they did for me over the years. And, I really did think I repaid them with results,” he said.

“Unfortunately noise was created, but I sleep well at night knowing that that noise didn’t come from myself. Hopefully, in years to come, myself and AusCycling can come to some sort of understanding, but for now I hope they’ve had their last word, we can put it to bed and enjoy riding in circles.”

Richardson was speaking as the early leader in the UCI Track Champions League having beaten Dutch ace Harrie Lavreysen in the opening round in both sprint and keirin at the weekend, reversing the Olympics results on the same Paris track.

Originally published as Track cyclist Matthew Richardson says his lifetime ban from Australian cycling means nothing to him