• London Olympics 2012

Cook hopes fade after BOA turns down latest appeal

ESPN staff
June 23, 2012
Aaron Cook may have to take his case to the High Court after his hopes of competing at London 2012 took another blow © PA Photos
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Aaron Cook has failed in his latest attempt to overturn GB Taekwondo's decision not to pick him for London 2012.

Lawyers for the taekwondo world No. 1 and European -80kg champion omitted from Team GB's squad wrote to inform the British Olympic Association (BOA) they had new evidence to support the athlete's argument that he had been overlooked on grounds other than performance.

However, the BOA has confirmed it will not meet with Cook's representatives to discuss his omission, claiming the fresh evidence did not warrant a recommendation to GB Taekwondo to review the process that saw Lutalo Muhammad picked instead of Cook in the -80kg class.

The letter sent to the BOA asked the governing body to revisit the endorsement of the nomination of Muhammad rather than Cook or recommend to the World Taekwondo Federation that it issues a wild card.

The evidence Cook's lawyers had hoped to use included material found on leading taekwondo website Mastaekwondo.com in February. The website claimed a member of their staff overheard GB officials blasting Cook's decision to quit the set-up in August and that they were already formulating a list of possible replacements in the -80kg category.

Cook's last hope may be to take the matter to the High Court, while he will be hoping the World Taekwondo Federation - which is carrying out its own investigation into the way GB Taekwondo are making selections - informs the BOA to reconsider its approval of Muhammad's selection.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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