Australian Olympic Medallist Banned For Life After Switching To Team GB
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| Photo: Matt Richardson / Instagram |
Australian cyclist Matt Richardson, who won silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics, has been banned for life by AusCycling after switching his allegiance to Great Britain.
Richardson, born in England but raised in Australia, decided to represent Team GB after the Paris Games. However, AusCycling says he kept his plan a secret during the Olympics, which they claim was a breach of trust.
The governing body also accused Richardson of asking to take Australian team property, including a custom bike and race suit, to Great Britain. They called this "an unacceptable risk to AusCycling’s intellectual property."
In a strong statement, AusCycling said Richardson is now permanently banned from rejoining the Australian team or using its resources. He is also ineligible for any awards linked to the organisation.
They attempted to impose a two-year ban on him competing against Australia but admitted it wasn’t legally enforceable.
After making the switch, Richardson explained his decision:
"Great Britain has always been in my heart since I was a kid," he said. "I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t give it a try."
Richardson, 24, was born in Kent, England, and moved to Australia when he was nine. He competed for Australia at both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, winning multiple medals in cycling events.
While his move to Team GB has upset many Australian fans, Richardson remains focused on his career, saying, "At the end of the day, it’s my life and my decision." Source
Richardson, born in England but raised in Australia, decided to represent Team GB after the Paris Games. However, AusCycling says he kept his plan a secret during the Olympics, which they claim was a breach of trust.
The governing body also accused Richardson of asking to take Australian team property, including a custom bike and race suit, to Great Britain. They called this "an unacceptable risk to AusCycling’s intellectual property."
 |
| Photo: Matt Richardson / Instagram |
In a strong statement, AusCycling said Richardson is now permanently banned from rejoining the Australian team or using its resources. He is also ineligible for any awards linked to the organisation.
They attempted to impose a two-year ban on him competing against Australia but admitted it wasn’t legally enforceable.
After making the switch, Richardson explained his decision:
"Great Britain has always been in my heart since I was a kid," he said. "I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t give it a try."
Richardson, 24, was born in Kent, England, and moved to Australia when he was nine. He competed for Australia at both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, winning multiple medals in cycling events.
While his move to Team GB has upset many Australian fans, Richardson remains focused on his career, saying, "At the end of the day, it’s my life and my decision." Source
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