Matt Richardson has been withdrawn from Great Britain’s squad for the 2026 Tissot UCI Track World Championships in Shanghai, with British Cycling confirming that the 27-year-old is leaving the team’s base in China. The governing body gave no reason for the decision, while an investigation into alleged misconduct has been reported. No finding against Richardson has been announced.
Richardson had been selected for the team sprint, individual sprint and keirin after winning the 2026 World Cup individual sprint standings, and had been viewed as a medal contender in all three events.
Richardson switched from Australia to Great Britain after the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he won three medals for Australia. He later won two European titles and two world silver medals in British colours. His planned Team England debut at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in July was ended by a crash in Japan that caused a broken scapula and a badly injured hip; he had been replaced in the England team before the Games began.
The governing body has not disclosed the nature of the allegations, identified any complainants or given a timetable for the inquiry, leaving his immediate competitive status beyond the Shanghai championships unresolved.