Matt Richardson has been officially withdrawn from the Great Britain team competing in next week’s track world championships in Shanghai, China. The decision comes as the 27-year-old cyclist faces serious allegations of misconduct. “British Cycling can confirm that Matt Richardson has been withdrawn from the Great Britain cycling team squad for the upcoming 2026 track cycling world championships in Shanghai, China,” a statement said.
A spokesperson for British Cycling confirmed the removal in a formal statement, though the organization declined to provide specific details regarding the investigation. When previously queried about potential instances of harassment, bullying, or discrimination, British Cycling maintained that such concerns are treated with extreme gravity and addressed through established internal procedures to ensure fairness for all parties involved. In app, tap the Profile settings button at the top right, then select Notifications. Make sure you’re on the most recent version, if you already have app. Download it from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play store on Android by searching for ”, if you don’t have app.
Richardson, who switched his sporting allegiance from Australia to Great Britain following the Paris 2024 Olympics, was initially viewed as a primary medal contender for the upcoming championships. He was slated to compete in the keirin, as well as the individual and team sprint events. He is currently in the process of departing the team’s training facilities in China. According to but after a Times story, which, There had been concerns about his behaviour from other riders, he is now in the process of leaving the team’s training base in China.
The cyclist, whose partner is fellow rider Emma Finucane, had been positioned as a cornerstone of the British squad, with future expectations tied to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Although he was born in Maidstone before relocating to Perth at age nine, he previously described his transition to the British team as a way to fulfill a childhood ambition. Reflecting on his choice to represent Britain, he remarked, “I grew up watching Chris Hoy race on the TV. Whenever I’ve raced in the UK, it felt as though I was racing in front of a home crowd. It made me think: ‘What would this feel like if I was racing for Great Britain?’ That’s something I want to find out. I want to chase that feeling.”
Prior to this development, Richardson missed an opportunity to represent England at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow earlier this summer after sustaining a crash during a keirin race shortly before his scheduled flight. Attempts to reach the athlete for comment regarding the current allegations have been unsuccessful.
