Inside Australian cycling row over Matthew Richardson betrayal: Stars feel ‘ripped off’ after teammate deserted them for Britain, says legend
- Cyclist Matthew Richardson has left Australia to join Great Britain
- But the move has sparked anger among some within Australian cycling
- Richardson was born in Kent and moved to Australia when he was nine
Matthew Richardson has been criticised by a former Australian world champion over his decision to defect to Britain.
Richardson won three track cycling medals for Australia at the Paris Olympics but announced on Monday that he will now race for Great Britain, his native country.
The 25-year-old’s decision has been met with fierce criticism in Australia, with Katherine Bates likening it to a “breakup you never saw coming” and saying other Australian riders feel “ripped off”.
“There are a lot of people who just can’t believe it and some of them feel quite disappointed personally because it took them by surprise,” said Bates, who won the points race at the 2007 World Championships and the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games.
‘Others feel a little ripped off, because their years of support for him came at the expense of their support for other athletes.
Cyclist Matthew Richardson has sparked anger after defecting from Australia to Britain
Richardson (left) won three medals at the Paris Olympics, two silver and one bronze
Katherine Bates (right) compared the situation to a ‘breakup you never saw coming’
‘I think the bond with your country is very strong, but if that bond exists, then I don’t understand why he didn’t take this step years ago.
“I don’t understand why, if that’s been the case all along, he took this path with AusCycling.”
Richardson was born in Maidstone, Kent, but moved to Australia at the age of nine and joined AusCycling as a junior.
He is in a relationship with British Emma Finucane, who also won three medals in track cycling in Paris.
Australia is meanwhile investigating whether the three-time Olympic medallist could be banned from international cycling for two years.
The 25-year-old won silver at the Paris Olympics in the men’s sprint and keirin events, and won bronze with Australia in the team sprint.
“There is disappointment in the decision and the process and not knowing Matt’s circumstances,”
Jesse Korf, general manager of performance at AusCycling, said this on Tuesday.
‘He will definitely not participate in the upcoming world championships (in October).
Bates added that Richardson’s decision “didn’t sit well with her” after Richardson was promoted by the AusCycling outfit
He is in a relationship with British Emma Finucane, who also won three medals in track cycling in Paris
Richardson was born in Maidstone, Kent, but moved to Australia when he was nine
Australia is meanwhile investigating whether the three-time Olympic medallist could be banned from international cycling for two years
‘But the duration of the non-compete clause and the clauses, those are currently being investigated and examined together with the UCI and the ASC (Australian Sports Commission).’
Korf said the following about imposing a two-year competition ban: ‘That is something we have to discuss internally, because we obviously have a lot to say about that and we have to look at it again.
‘Similarly, the AIS/ASC is a major stakeholder, as they provide much of the funding.
‘That should be a conversation to come to a collective decision, before we can share that and start a conversation with the UCI, Matt and British Cycling.’
