Years of alleged racist and homophobic messages revealed as British Cycling faces scrutiny over delayed action and "toxic" culture

British Cycling is facing questions over the handling of an investigation into alleged discriminatory behavior by track cycling star Matthew Richardson, after details emerged about the complaint that triggered the case and the length of time it took for the rider to be withdrawn from the World Championships in Shanghai.

According to The Times, the investigation began after a member of British Cycling's world-class programme raised concerns about an image Richardson had allegedly sent to male teammates. The image reportedly contained a deeply offensive racial reference to another British rider. A formal complaint was made to team staff before the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July, although Richardson remained part of the national team's plans for several months afterwards.

The 27-year-old was selected for the World Championships in China and was reportedly still available for media interviews before the team's departure. His withdrawal came only 48 hours before the competition, following the publication of details about the allegations.

The delay has prompted some riders to question why the matter was not addressed earlier, particularly given that the original complaint had reportedly been made in July.

Richardson subsequently issued a statement saying that he would fully cooperate with British Cycling's investigation and intended to demonstrate “contrition” towards anyone who may have been affected by his alleged behavior.

The investigation reportedly concerns more than the single image that prompted the initial complaint. The Times says it has seen extensive evidence, including messages and images allegedly sent by Richardson to other riders over a number of years.

The newspaper identified six separate messages in which Richardson appeared to use the racially offensive n-word, alongside other messages in which he reportedly joked about using the term. The material also allegedly included offensive references to Asian people and homophobic comments. A separate senior source told the newspaper about another image allegedly circulated among riders that referenced an athlete from a different national team and included the same racial slur.

The original image is believed to have been seen by several members of the British Cycling programme. According to sources cited by The Times, some riders were reluctant to “get involved” when the matter was discussed internally.

One rider declined to acknowledge receiving the image, despite other sources identifying him as one of its original recipients. A teammate claimed that the rider had taken a screenshot of it.

The investigation has also affected Richardson's commercial relationships.

Rocket Sports, the agency representing several current and former British cycling stars, has removed Richardson from its talent roster and taken down the announcement published when it began representing him in September. A spokesperson confirmed that the agency had suspended its work with the rider while the investigation remained open.

The case has emerged against a backdrop of wider concerns about the organization's internal culture. A confidential independent survey of British Cycling's elite riders reportedly found that morale had fallen considerably since the previous Olympic cycle, with some respondents describing the atmosphere at the Manchester base as “toxic”.

British Cycling acknowledged that improvements were needed, while also emphasizing that many employees “love” their jobs. In a statement, the organization said: “It is important to recognise others want to see improvements, and we are committed to listening and acting on this, while remaining a high-performance environment”.

“The wellbeing of our people is fundamental to everything we do. We are committed to maintaining a respectful and inclusive environment, and any concerns raised are handled through our formal procedures. Any complaint is taken seriously. Allegations of misconduct are assessed carefully and thoroughly, and where evidence supports an allegation, we act promptly and appropriately.”