Since the leaders of the British Federation of Taekwondo decided that Aaron Cook would not be in the British Olympic team, a wave of events triggered, in which Cook‘s technical and legal team did everything possible to reverse this situation so that the World No. 1 could be heading in the less than -80 kg division at the Olympic Games in London.

During mid-May and in the middle of the dispute, Cook wrote a letter defining the time living as an ordeal (View Note: Aaron Cook defined the time living as an ordeal), and was then when masTaekwondo.com was called to provide evidence in the case, (View Note: MasTaekwondo.com would be key in the British Olympic Team scandal)

After the presentation of evidence by our news media, a great controversy arose in the United Kingdom and invaded the mass media (View Note: UK media is talking about masTaekwondo.com), but it was rejected for the third time by the British Olympic Association, so the next step was to appeal at the Supreme Court.

After dealing with psychological and economical wear and knowing that any resolution was going to be known at the end of the Olympics, Aaron Cook decided with to stop with this and with a lot of pain accepted the fact that he was not going to participate at the Olympic Games in London.

We would like to show you Aaron Cook‘s letter that he made public in which he declares his decision to give up this fight and ensuring how devastated he feels.

Aaron Cook Statement

After careful consideration over the last few weeks, and despite my representatives advising me that I still had a good chance of successfully overturning the BOA’s ratification of Great Britain Taekwondo’s decision not to select me for London 2012, I have decided not to take my case against the BOA to the High Court. The financial implications for me, and, more importantly, for my parents, of doing so are too prohibitive.

I am really disappointed that the BOA did not agree to my case being heard at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. It is the specialist forum for sports-related matters. The High Court is significantly more expensive, time-consuming and does not have the experience or expertise in dealing with sports-related disputes.

The World Taekwondo Federation is currently conducting a review of British Taekwondo’s selection process. It has already publicly stated that the selection process has brought the sport into disrepute due to a perceived lack of transparency. I welcome this investigation but I am hugely disappointed that the WTF has now indicated that it will not finalise the review and findings in time for London 2012. This is particularly disappointing as the BOA had reserved the right to reconsider its decision to ratify Great Britain Taekwondo’s nomination in light of the WTF’s findings. I do hope that the WTF will consider after the Games a new automatic selection criteria for the Top 10 athletes in the World Rankings in each weight category for future Olympics and World Championships.

I also hope that UK Sport and the BOA act to resolve the long-term issues that have been revealed by my case. In the best interests of Team GB, I have decided not to take up the offer to be first reserve for London 2012. Clearly it would be hugely difficult for me to work with their coaches in view of what has happened in the last few weeks. I wish all of the athletes the very best of luck -that includes Lutalo Muhammad.

I love my country. I love my sport. I don’t think that I could have done any more in terms of my performance. I will sit down with my team though and consider my best way forward in the coming months.

I would like to thank my legal team, Bob Mitchell and Anil Matharu of Harbottle & Lewis and Michael Beloff QC and Andrew Hunter QC of Blackstone Chambers for their legal advice both during the successful appeal to Sport Resolutions and since then. I would also like to thank my sponsors and my agents Professional Sports Group for their unflagging support throughout this ordeal. Finally I would like to thank my family who were prepared to sacrifice everything for my cause and all the fans who have supported me.

I have nothing more to say at this stage. I will not be doing any media interviews. The Olympics, and especially a home Olympics, would have been the pinnacle of my career. I feel totally devastated.

Exclusive masTaekwondo.com Team

Translation: Silvana Ramírez Cuevas

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