Olympic cyclist Matthew Richardson has defended his decision to defect from Australia to Britain, as he faces a potential two-year ban.

Richardson stunned AusCycling by announcing this week – just days after winning three medals for Australia at the Paris Olympics – that he was off to race for Britain.

His decision to switch had been kept secret from the Australian cycling hierarchy and has prompted a wave of criticism. On Wednesday, British-born Richardson hit back.

“I obviously understood that there would be a bit of bitterness around this decision. But at the end of the day it’s my career and it’s my life,” the 25-year-old told ABC News.

“I’m just a kid chasing a dream.

“Everyone’s entitled to their opinion. It’s up to me whether I want to listen to it or not, and I’ve obviously chosen not to.

“It’s a free world, and they can do and say what they like. I’m happy with the decision I’ve made.”

Among the critics are former Olympic cyclist Scott McGrory, who commentated in Paris for the Nine Network.

“Most of the cycling community, especially those of us who are close to the program and me as a commentator at the Olympic Games for Channel Nine, are shocked,” he told the Today show.

“We get emotionally invested in these athletes … I’ve been there myself, so we go on the journey with them. So when something like this happens, it really is deflating and we are very shocked.”

 

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On Tuesday, AusCycling executive general manager of performance Jesse Korf said there was disappointment about Richardson’s decision and how it was made.

He said the possibility of enforcing a two-year non-competition clause was being investigated.

“For sure he will not compete at the upcoming world championships [in October],” Korf said.

“The non-competition duration and clauses, that is being interrogated and looked into at the moment, together with the UCI (cycling’s governing body) and [Australian Sports Commission].”

Korf said it was “too early to tell” if AusCycling would enforce any ban.

“That is something that we would have to discuss internally because we obviously have a big say in that and we need to review that,” he said.

“On that same token the AIS/ASC is a big stakeholder in that they provide a lot of the funding.

“That would have to be a conversation to get to a joint decision before we can share that and start a conversation with UCI and Matt and British Cycling.”

Richardson was born in Maidstone, England, and moved to Australia at the age of nine. He said he had a “strong emotional connection” to his country of birth.

“When I grew up I was watching people like Chris Hoy and Jason Kenny win gold medals at the Olympic Games for GB, and those sort of memories really resonate with a kid. It kind of burnt itself in my brain, and that has just kind of stuck with me ever since,” he told the ABC.

British Cycling, which has a financial budget three times that of AusCycling, told Korf it didn’t “proactively reach out” to entice Richardson. Instead, the 25-year-old Perth-raised cyclist contacted the Brits in secret.

“There would have had to be discussions [with British Cycling] prior to Matt lodging his procedure with the UCI, which got finalised at least three months ago,” Korf said.

“It’s highly likely that there would have been conversations between February and April. However, the nature of that, I am not aware of.”

Richardson was Australia’s most successful cyclist at the Paris Olympics, winning silver medals in the men’s keirin and sprint, and a bronze in the men’s team sprint.

In interviews with British media, Richardson said he kept his secret due to potential Olympic selection ramifications.

Korf said he didn’t know if there would have been any ramifications.

“We would surely have considered the impact and ramifications and opportunity for other riders,” he said.

“In that same breath Matt was on an exceptional trajectory and performed exceptionally at the Games.

“All things would have been considered. I don’t know if there would have been ramifications.

“It may or may not have and they could have been both from our side or the AOC’s (Australian Olympic Committee) side.”

-with AAP