Former Australian cyclist Matthew Richardson could face two-year ban after British defection

Former Australian cyclist Matthew Richardson could be ineligible to take part in competitive events for years following his defection to Great Britain.

Australia's Matthew Richardson celebrates his silver medal on the podium of the men's track cycling keirin event of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines National Velodrome in Montigny-le-Bretonneux, south-west of Paris, on August 11, 2024. (Photo by Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP)

Former Australian cyclist Matthew Richardson could be ineligible to take part in competitive events for two years following his defection to Great Britain.

On Monday, Richardson penned an emotional Instagram post revealing he would represent Great Britain going forward, with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) approving the switch this week.

The 25-year-old, who made his Olympic debut in Tokyo three years ago, won three medals at the Paris Games earlier this month, including silver in Sprint and Keirin events and bronze in the Team Sprint.

“Switching nationality was a difficult decision, and not one I took lightly,” Richardson explained.

“It was a personal choice, made after careful consideration of my career and future. It’s not something I decided on quickly or easily.

“I hope you can understand and support me as I continue to give my best in the sport I love.”

Silver medallist Matthew Richardson. Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

UCI rules state that cyclists who change nationality are not eligible to compete at the next edition of the world and continental championships following their switch, meaning Richardson will not feature at October’s marquee event in Denmark and February’s European Championships in Belgium.

However, Australia’s cycling governing body is exploring whether a two-year non-competition period applies to Richardson as well.

“For sure he will not compete at the upcoming world championships (in October),” AusCycling’s executive general manager of performance Jesse Korf said this week.

“But the non-competition duration and clauses, that is being interrogated and looked into at the moment together with the UCI and ASC.”

Korf explained that AusCycling was unsure whether to enforce a two-year non-competition clause.

“That is something that we would have to discuss internally because we obviously have a big say in that and we need to review that,” Korf said.

“On that same token the AIS/ASC is a big stakeholder in that they provide a lot of the funding.

“So that would have to be a conversation to get to a joint decision before we can share that and start a conversation with UCI and Matt and British Cycling.”

Gold medallist Harrie Lavreysen of Team Netherlands celebrates after beating Silver medallist Matthew Richardson of Team Australia. Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images

Speaking on the ABC Sport Daily podcast this week, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Bates confessed Australia’s athletes felt “blindsided” by Richardson’s departure following years of support from AusCycling.

“There’s a lot of people this morning who just can’t believe it and some who are feeling, personally, quite let down because they were blindsided by it,” Bates said.

“Others who are feeling a little bit ripped off because supporting him over the years has come at the direct cost of supporting other athletes.”

Bates, who represented Australia at the Olympics in 2004 and 2008, also questioned why Richardson didn’t make the switch earlier in his career.

“I think the tie to your country is very strong but, in saying that, if there is that tie, then I’m not really sure why he wouldn’t have made this leap years ago,” Bates continued.

“It doesn’t really sit right with me that if that was the case all along why he went down this path with AusCycling.”

Originally published as Former Australian cyclist Matthew Richardson could face two-year ban after British defection