'Just words on a piece of paper': Track-cycling defector Matthew Richardson's scathing response to lifetime ban

Track-cycling defector Matthew Richardson has shot back at the governing body of Australian cycling after it imposed a lifetime ban on him, comparing its move to an employee leaving their job and later being told they're sacked.

The 25-year-old speedster also said the statement released by AusCycling on Monday was "just words on a piece of paper" that "don't hold any weight".

In the days that followed the Paris Olympics, at which Richardson won two silver medals and a bronze for Australia on the velodrome, he revealed he would be switching to represent Great Britain, his country of birth.

READ MORE: 'We loved everything about him': Hughes family pays tribute

READ MORE: Rival club's audacious bid to poach Flanagan for 2026

READ MORE: Ex-Test star fires back after 'unjustified' Aussie 'pile on'

His decision infuriated AusCycling, who said on Monday he was banned from competing for Australia, prohibited from using any of the governing body's resources and ineligible for any AusCycling awards. All three sanctions are in place for life.

"I didn't know it was coming," Richardson said during a UCI Track Champions League press conference.

"I found it quite interesting. I guess they were just keen to get one last, final blow, one last, final word.

"But ultimately, I had left three months ago. I'm not sure where the confusion ... has come from, but I thought it was pretty obvious that, by wanting to ride for GB for the rest of my career, that would mean I didn't want to ride for Australia for the rest of my career. It's almost like you leave your job, and three months later, they go, 'Well, you're fired!'.

"It's just words on a piece of paper, really, and they don't really carry much weight for me."

AusCycling said in Monday's statement it had investigated the prospect of a two-year non-compete clause being enforced, but discovered it was "legally unenforceable".

Richardson competed in the Great Britain kit at the Track Champions League event in Paris at the weekend, where he took victory in the men's sprint and keirin finals.

But he didn't make his official debut for Great Britain given athletes represent themselves in the Track Champions League. Despite that, all athletes wear the kit of the country with which they are aligned as a cyclist.

"The UCI can't enforce regulations on me that I haven't signed for," Richardson said.

"That was just words on a piece of paper that, again, don't hold any weight.

"As they also said in that review, they're going to have to go back and have a look at that clause, which basically just admits that they're going to have to change it or get rid of it, or whatever, because it clearly has no meaning."

Richardson was born in Maidstone, Kent but moved to Perth at the age of nine.

He took up cycling with Perth's Midland Cycling Club and was soon riding with the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS).

Prior to becoming a cyclist he was an elite gymnast who won a stash of state and national medals.

Richardson said he'd "always been respectful to AusCycling" as well as "thankful for everything" the organisation had done for him.

"I really did think I repaid them with all the results, you know — the world championship, the three Olympic medals that I returned," Richardson added.

"Unfortunately, noise was created around the issue, but I sleep well at night knowing that noise didn't come from myself.

"Hopefully in the years to come, myself and AusCycling can come to some sort of understanding.

"But for now, there we go. They've had their final word.

"Hopefully we can just put it to bed and just enjoy riding in circles."