Team GB cyclist Matthew Richardson has been sent home from the World Track Cycling Championships in Shanghai over allegations of misconduct.
Richardson, 27, switched allegiance from Australia to Britain after the last Olympics and had been expected to secure three medals in China this week after declaring himself the fastest cyclist in history.
Now instead he is in the process of leaving the country.
In a statement sent to Daily Mail Sport, a British Cycling spokesperson said: ‘British Cycling can confirm that Matt Richardson has been withdrawn from the Great Britain Cycling Team squad for the upcoming 2026 Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Shanghai, China.’
When approached by Daily Mail Sport about the misconduct allegations which are believed to have prompted Richardson’s withdrawal, the organisation added that they would not be commenting further at this stage.
The Times reported Richardson is subject to an investigation into his behaviour, particularly towards teammates.
The investigation is said to have been prompted by a complaint from another rider.
Matthew Richardson has been withdrawn from the World Track Cycling Championships
Richardson’s partner is fellow British cyclist Emma Finucane, who is also out in China
One rider who spoke to the Times said Richardson would not moderate his behaviour even when engaging with athletes from minority backgrounds.
British Cycling added to the Times: ‘British Cycling takes any allegations of harassment, bullying or discrimination extremely seriously.
‘Where concerns are raised, they are investigated thoroughly through our established procedures.
‘Out of fairness to anyone involved in an investigation, we would not comment on any ongoing process.’
Richardson is one half of Britain’s cycling golden couple. He is in a long-term relationship with Emma Finucane, the star of Great Britain’s women’s team.
Richardson and Finucane live together in Manchester and have been dating since February 2024 after ‘knowing each other for a long time’.
Richardson had been due to be one of four members of the men’s sprint squad at the World Championships.
He had been due to join Harry Ledingham-Horn, Ed Lowe and Joe Truman in the squad.
Richardson had claimed three medals at the European Championships in Konya, Turkey, earlier this year.
Richardson and Finucane have joked about being ‘the world’s fastest household’ on the track
The 27-year-old won gold in both the men’s sprint and keirin events, as well as claiming silver in the team sprint with Truman and Hamish Turnbull.
Richardson had been due to make his comeback after he was injured during the Keirin World Series in July.
Last week, Richardson said he is ‘lucky’ to be walking after being wiped out by a rival in an incident, which ruled him out of the Commonwealth Games three months ago.
Richardson had been slammed off the track by Japanese cyclist Kento Suzuki while competing in the event July, leaving the velodrome in an ambulance.
The sprinter said he has not received an apology from Suzuki over the incident.
Richardson poses in a Union Jack flag after switching allegiance from Australia
Richardson’s hopes of competing at the Commonwealth Games were ended in Japan
He was favourite to win gold in Glasgow but never got to take part after the horrifying crash. He was unable to walk for four days after coming away with a broken scapula and a heavily bruised hip.
Richardson had been hoping to defend the title he won when competing for Australia in 2022, before he switched nationality to represent Britain, which he claimed was like ‘Hogwarts’ compared to ‘High School’.
The Australian defector, who was born in the English town of Maidstone but moved to Perth at nine and went on to carve out a brilliant track career for Australia, caused a sensation by switching allegiance straight after winning two silvers and a bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
He received a life ban for competing for Australia, but despite early bitter criticism back in the country that honed his cycling talent, he’s since carved out a strikingly impressive career in GB and England skinsuits.
