A talent agency co-founded by Sir Elton John has halted work with British Cycling star sprinter Matthew Richardson while he faces an investigation into allegations of discriminatory behaviour.Richardson, 27, was sent home from the Track Cycling World Championships in Shanghai earlier this month after a ‘misconduct’ probe into his behaviour was launched.British Cycling began investigating the triple Olympic medallist after a formal complaint was made, it is understood. Richardson, who previously represented Australia before switching to represent Britain in 2024, has now had commercial work with talent agency Rocket Sports paused while the investigation continues.The agency, co-founded ahead of the London 2012 Olympics by Sir Elton John and Luke Lloyd-Davies, told The Times it has paused all work with Richardson. ‘In agreement with Matty, while the British Cycling investigation is ongoing we have paused all of our commercial work with him,’ Rocket Sports told The Times. Matt Richardson has seen work with the talent agency co-founded by Sir Elton John paused as he faces a British Cycling investigation into allegations of discriminatory behaviour’Matty has been removed from the Rocket Sports website to prevent further enquiries related to this matter.’Rocket Sports, which represents several current and former British Cycling stars, including Richardson’s girlfriend Emma Finucane, had only announced the signing of the star in September.Richardson is now reportedly being represented by a London-based crisis communications agency.The sprinter had said earlier this month that he was ‘deeply disappointed’ to miss the World Championships and would co-operate with British Cycling’s investigation. He said: ‘I understand the seriousness of what has been raised in recent reports about my withdrawal from the 2026 UCI Track Cycling World Championships.’British Cycling has said it looks into matters like this through its established procedures. I will co-operate fully with its processes. I assure everyone that I will do so properly, and appropriately and with contrition for the feelings of anyone who might be affected.’Out of fairness to everyone involved, and on advice, like British Cycling, I will not be commenting further until any process is complete. I am deeply disappointed to miss the World Championships, and I wish the Great Britain team and every rider competing the very best.’Richardson’s girlfriend Finucane, who won two silver and one bronze medal at the World Championships, has vowed to support him through the investigation.Richardson and Finucane live together in Manchester and have been dating since February 2024 after ‘knowing each other for a long time’. Richardson’s girlfriend Emma Finucane has vowed to support him during the investigation’He’s my partner and I will support him no matter what through this difficult time while this private investigation is going on, we will leave it as that,’ Finucane told BBC Radio 5Live on Friday.’I guess every major event brings its own challenges and my focus in China was my own performances and everything else that has happened around it was pretty difficult but I’m really proud of the way I showed up and the way I performed.’I gave everything out there on the track.“It would be inappropriate for me to comment on the process that is going on. It’s being managed by British Cycling, and I want to respect that. ‘But, yeah, I’m really proud of how I showed up, and yeah, it has been difficult, too, for everyone involved.’