Olympic cycling defector comes clean on decision to join to Great Britain as Aussies hand him lifetime ban: ‘I’d regret it for the rest of my life’ [Video]

06:01 EST 26 Nov 2024, updated 07:01 EST 26 Nov 2024

Controversial Olympic cycling star Matthew Richardson, who has caused outrage in Australia over his decision to defect to race for Great Britain, has come clean on his decision to join up with the rival team.

The 25-year-old Olympic silver medallist, who dazzled in the Keirin and Sprint events in Paris, was handed a lifetime ban by Cycling Australia on Monday following his controversial defection.

The move has enraged some in Australia, with cycling fans branding him a turncoat after bombshell new details on his defection emerged on Monday.

According to an investigation conducted by AusCycle into his defection, Richardson is alleged to have withheld information from the governing body that he was going to jump ship to join the Brits. It is understood that he had known about the defection prior to the Games in Paris.

The governing body, who came down heavily on the dual-citizen on Monday with multiple …