Matthew Richardson has promised to co-operate fully with British Cycling’s investigation into his alleged misconduct, after breaking his silence in the wake of his withdrawal from this week’s world track championships.
British Cycling confirmed on Monday evening that the 27-year-old was being sent home from the team’s training base in China, after the Times reported that concerns had been raised about his behaviour, including from fellow riders.
Last week, Maidstone-born Richardson – who defected from Australia following the 2024 Paris Olympics – was named as part of Great Britain’s 20-rider line-up for the track world championships in Shanghai, which begin on Wednesday, and was scheduled to compete in the sprint, keirin, and team sprint.
However, on Monday the Times published a story claiming that it had uncovered evidence that Richardson had apparently made “discriminatory remarks about people from minority backgrounds”, prompting an investigation by British Cycling.
The governing body has declined to provide any detail regarding the investigation, instead simply confirming that Richardson had been withdrawn from the squad without supplying any particular reason. British Cycling has also told road.cc that it cannot share anymore information at this point.
Richardson was also unavailable for comment in the immediate aftermath of the news breaking, but on Tuesday afternoon released a statement on social media saying he will co-operate fully with the investigation, and that he will do so with “contrition for the feelings of anyone who might be affected”.
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“I understand the seriousness of what has been raised in recent reports about my withdrawal from the 2026 UCI Track Cycling World Championships,” he said.
“British Cycling has said it looks into matters like this through its established procedures. I will co-operate fully with its processes. I assure everyone that I will do so properly, and appropriately and with contrition for the feelings of anyone who might be affected.
“Out of fairness to everyone involved, and on advice, like British Cycling, I will not be commenting further until any process is complete. I am deeply disappointed to miss the World Championships, and I with the Great Britain team and every rider competing the very best. I ask that my family’s privacy is respected at this time.”
On Tuesday, funding body UK Sport also issued a statement supporting the governing body and its investigation into Richardson.
“We support the seriousness with which British Cycling is treating this matter and it is essential that proper and fair process is followed,” UK Sport said.
“The highest standards of integrity and athlete welfare are non-negotiable when it comes to UK Sport’s commitment to winning well.”
Maidstone-born Richardson controversially switched his national allegiance back to Great Britain in 2024, after securing two silver medals and a bronze while representing Australia, where he lived from the age of nine, at that year’s Paris Olympics.
In August 2025, Richardson broke the world record for the flying 200m time trial, becoming the first person in history to break the nine second barrier for the discipline. He also picked up European titles in the sprint and keirin in February, but has missed the last three months of racing following a serious crash in July.
