England’s Olympic cycling silver medalist Matt Richardson has been ruled out of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with injury, denying the event one of its most intriguing subplots.

Richardson, 27, controversially switched allegiance to England days after winning two silvers for Australia at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

He has since described the Australia programme as “like high school” and the British “like Hogwarts”, praising the greater resources and financial support he has received.

Former Australia team-mate Leigh Hoffman, meanwhile, said his compatriots “want me to smash him”.

Richardson – who was born in Maidstone, Kent, but moved to Australia at the age of nine and maintained dual citizenship – would have been one of the main medal contenders on the track in Glasgow and was planning to race the team sprint, keirin and the sprint.

He has had impressive results since switching his allegiance, winning two silver medals in sprint and team sprint at the 2025 Track Cycling World Championships and beating Olympic champion Harrie Lavreysen to win the European sprint and keirin titles.

Richardson was injured after a crash and subsequent heavy fall at this week’s World Series keirin event in Japan.

He will be replaced by Harry Radford, who will contest the sprint events on his Commonwealth Games debut.