Former Australian Olympic cyclist Matthew Richardson has been handed a lifetime ban by AusCycle, with the governing body coming down heavy on the silver medallist after releasing a strongly-worded statement.
On Monday, Australia’s cycling body published its ‘final review statement’ following an investigation into the events that led to Richardson’s defection to join rivals Great Britain.
The review took stock of how the 25-year-old, who won two silver medals in Paris, had acted when attempting to leave the Australian team, with the governing body claiming his actions had ‘conflicted with the values of AusCycling, the Australian National Team and the broader cycling community.’
During their review process, AusCycling claims that Richardson, who was born in Maidstone in Kent, had also requested that he take equipment and property that belonged to the governing body to Great Britain.
AusCycle claimed this presented an ‘unacceptable risk to AusCycling’s intellectual property.’
‘After the [Paris 2024] Games, but before announcing his decision, Richardson asked to take AusCycling property including a custom bike, cockpit, and Olympic race suit to Great Britain,’ a statement from AusCyling read.
Australian Olympic cyclist, Matthew Richardson, has been handed a life ban by AusCycle
It came after he had announced he would be defecting from the Australian team to join Great Britain
AusCycling conducted a review into the situation and found that he had requested to take property that belonged to Cycling Australia to Great Britain
‘This represented an unacceptable risk to AusCycling’s intellectual property.’
The organisation also found that the rider had kept the news of his decision to leave the Australia team a secret from AusCycling and his team-mates, having learned he would be defecting to GB prior to the games.
Richardson copped widespread backlash from many Down Under, including Aussie Olympic cyclist Katherine Bates, who likened his split from AusCycle as the ‘break-up you never saw coming’.
She added that other riders had felt ‘ripped off’ by the move.
AusCycle have subsequently imposed several sanctions on their former rider.
‘Richardson will not be eligible to rejoin the Australian Cycling Team at any point in the future,’ the body said.
‘He is also prohibited from using any resources associated with the Australian Cycling Team or its partners.
‘Richardson will be ineligible for any AusCycling-related awards, effective immediately.’
Aussie cycling star Katherine Bates (pictured right) said the defection ‘blindsided’ the team and left some athletes feeling ‘ripped off’
Bates added that Richardson’s decision did not ‘sit right with her’ after Richardson had advanced through the AusCycling set up
The governing body had also attempted to place a two-year non-competition clause on Richarson, but claimed in the statement that such a ban would be ‘legally unenforceable’.
He remains unable to compete for Great Britain at the UCI Track World Championships until early next year.
‘These decisions underscore AusCycling’s adherence to the values of the Australian National Team and our broader commitment to the principle of Win Well,’ Jesse Korf, executive general manager of performance for AusCycling, said.
‘Integrity, respect and trust are foundational to our team and organisation, and we remain focused on fostering an environment that upholds these standards.’
The governing body added: ‘AusCycling reaffirms its commitment to supporting the Australian cycling community and ensuring that all athletes, partners, and stakeholders embody the values of fairness, respect, and collaboration.’
It had emerged in August that the Aussie star, who is eligible to represent both the UK and Australia through dual-citizenship, was set to defect to ride for Great Britain – receiving widespread criticism for the move after having previously raced in a green and gold jersey at the 2020 Tokyo Games and the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Richardson ruffled the feathers of other Aussie athletes from past and present, having kept his decision to swap the green and gold jersey for a red, white and blue cycling suit.
But he hit back at his critics earlier this year, explaining why he had opted to part company with the Australian team.
Richardson copped widespread backlash for the move, but hit back at critics claiming ‘it’s my life’
AusCycle have subsequently imposed several sanctions on their former rider, including a life ban
‘I obviously understood that there would be a bit of bitterness around this decision, but at the end of the day it’s my career and it’s my life,’ he told ABC.
‘Everyone is entitled to their opinion. It’s up to me whether I want to listen to it or not, and I’ve obviously chosen not to.
‘When I grew up I was watching people like Chris Hoy and Jason Kenny win gold medals at the Olympic Games for GB, and those sort of memories really resonate with a kid,’ he said.
‘It kind of burnt itself in my brain, and that has just kind of stuck with me ever since.’
Bates, meanwhile said she and many other riders were left baffled by the decision.
‘There’s a lot of people who just can’t believe it and some who are feeling, personally, quite let down because they were blindsided by it.
‘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.
‘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.
‘It doesn’t really sit right with me that if that was the case all along why he went down this path with AusCycling.’
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk