Cook’s bid over after world body’s ruling

British Taekwondo followed their selection policy in the controversial decision to nominate Lutalo Muhammad in favour of Aaron Cook for the London Olympic squad, the World Taekwondo Federation have ruled.

Cook was overlooked for the under-80 kilograms place at the Games despite successfully retaining his European title earlier this summer. The world 
No 1 has maintained the decision to select Muhammad was flawed but, after the British Olympic Association (BOA) ruled there was insufficient new evidence for British Taekwondo to be forced to reopen their selection process and also did not allow Cook to take his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Cook reluctantly dropped his appeal, deciding against taking it to the High Court.

The global governing body yesterday issued a statement after the conclusion of their review, which is expected to draw a line under the matter.

It read: “The World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) has completed its review into British Taekwondo’s (BT) selection process for the London 2012 Olympic Games, and has found that the rules defined in BT’s 
selection policy were followed.”

Cook, who will not be taking up the reserve place, has been self-funded since leaving the GB Taekwondo Academy programme last year, and always maintained his decision to go it alone was ultimately behind the decision to exclude him from the Olympic squad. GB Taekwondo refute this claim.