Thursday 16 April 2015 18:18, UK
Taekwondo athlete Aaron Cook is set to represent Moldova after having his request to leave Team GB approved.
Cook competed for Team GB at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games but was overlooked for the 2012 London team, despite holding the No 1 ranking.
The British Olympic Association approved Cook’s request to reliquish his British sporting nationality despite the 24-year-old having a named place for Team GB for the Baku 2015 European Games.
We are saddened by Aaron’s decision to compete for Moldova, but we wish him all the best for the future.
BOA chief executive Bill Sweeney said Cook could still re-consider the request, saying: "Our primary intention is always to ensure that the best athletes are eligible for selection for Team GB.
“As of today, Aaron Cook has a named place for Team GB for the Baku 2015 European Games. We strongly urged Aaron to re-consider his decision to make himself available for selection to Team GB in Baku and to represent his country of birth, rather than proceeding with a change of sporting nationality.
'Saddened'
“Despite the fact that there is no legitimate case for nationality change here, the BOA cannot compel any athlete to represent the United Kingdom against his or her will.
"As such, and as Aaron has now reiterated he wishes to represent Moldova, rather than the country of his birth, at future taekwondo competitions,BOA will not stand in his way.
“We are saddened by Aaron’s decision to make himself unavailable for selection for Team GB and to instead compete for Moldova, but we wish him all the best for the future.”
The switch to Moldova comes four years after Cook first expressed dissatisfaction with the British taekwondo set-up.
After a number of unsuccessful appeals to overturn the decision to exclude him from the London 2012 Olympic Team, the Dorset-born fighter vowed to never work with British Taekwondo again. He then represented the Isle of Man
Cook announced his intentions to switch nationalities earlier this month, saying he felt he had “no choice” but to pursue Moldovan eligibility.
Cook is eligible to switch nationalities and compete for Moldova at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, should he be selected, as the Olympic Charter states that three years must pass before an athlete can represent a different country.
