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.
Richardson has been sent home after evidence emerged of the sprinter allegedly making discriminatory remarks about people from minority backgrounds and joking about his use of the N-word.
In a statement sent to Daily Mail Sport, a British Cycling spokesperson said:Â ‘British Cycling can confirm that Matt Richardson has been withdrawn from the Great Britain Cycling Team squad for the upcoming 2026 Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Shanghai, China.’
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.
Matthew Richardson has been withdrawn from the World Track Cycling Championships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
Last week, Richardson said he has received no apology and is ‘lucky’ to be walking after being wiped out by a rival before the Commonwealth Games.Â
Richardson was slammed off the track by Japanese cyclist Kento Suzuki while competing in the Keirin World Series in July, leaving the velodrome in an ambulance.
The 27-year-old won gold for Australia in 2022, before ‘defecting’ to Britain, claiming it was like ‘Hogwarts’ compared to ‘High School’.
He was favourite to retain his gold in Glasgow but never got to take part after the horrifying crash, which the Aussies made fun of. He was unable to walk for four days after coming away with a broken scapula and a heavily bruised hip.
Richardson and Finucane live together in Manchester and have been dating since February 2024 after ‘knowing each other for a long time’.
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.
Richardson and Finucane have joked about being ‘the world’s fastest household’ on the track
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
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.
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.Â
