article_snippet.sent: British Olympic chief Bill Sweeney British Olympic chief Bill Sweeney insists the association worked 'really hard' to keep Taekwondo star Aaron Cook on board - but the 24-year-old was set on changing Taekwondo star Aaron Cook nationality and competing for Moldova at the 2016 Olympics.
article_snippet.sent: Dorset-born Cook who was overlooked for the Great Britain taekwondo squad at London 2012, applied for citizenship earlier this month after receiving funding from Moldovan billionaire Igor Iuzefovici and has already received Moldovan billionaire Igor Iuzefovici passport from the small eastern European state.
article_snippet.sent: Taekwondo fighter Taekwondo star Aaron Cook's application to switch allegiances to Moldova has been approved .
article_snippet.sent: Three time European champion Aaron Cook (right) has refused to fight for Great Britain since May 2012 .
article_snippet.sent: Taekwondo fighter Aaron Cook has felt aggrieved at the decision to leave Taekwondo fighter Aaron Cook out of the 2012 London Olympic squad . '
article_snippet.sent: There had been long-standing animosity from Taekwondo fighter Aaron Cook towards GB Taekwondo after Taekwondo fighter Aaron Cook felt Taekwondo fighter Aaron Cook had been kept out of the 2012 London Olympic squad for London 2012 because Taekwondo fighter Aaron Cook had decided to quit the British programme in 2011.
article_snippet.sent: Lutalo Muhammed was selected instead and won the bronze medal, but Sweeney says the door was open for Cook - who has instead opted to represent Moldova. '
article_snippet.sent: Cook, who fought for Team GB at Beijing 2008, announced He intention to change nationality in a statement on Facebook at the start of April, saying: 'Although I am upset and disappointed I will not represent my country of birth at another major championships, I felt I had no other option. '
article_snippet.sent: Jeremy Beard, the chairman of GB Taekwondo, said in a statement: 'Having secured Jeremy Beard, the chairman of GB Taekwondo place at the upcoming European Games, we are naturally disappointed that Aaron Cook does not wish to represent Great Britain in Baku, nor at the Olympic Games in Rio. '
article_snippet.sent: British Olympic chief Bill Sweeney says there was nothing that could have stopped Aaron Cook switching .
article_snippet.sent: Aaron Cook competes against Mauro Sarmiento at the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008 .
article_snippet.sent: Jamie Cunningham, Cook's former agent, is pleased Mauro Sarmiento has a pathway to the Olympic Games . '
article_snippet.sent: Aaron Cook has previously said Aaron Cook hopes to represent Moldova for the first time at the inaugural Baku European Games in June.
article_snippet.sent: Aaron Cook former agent, Jamie Cunningham, tweeted: 'Delighted @aaroncooktkd has clear route to #Rio @& opp to show 2012 was personal.
article_snippet.sent: Pity that Aaron Cook won't be @TeamGB
highlights_snippet.sent: Taekwondo star Aaron Cook has changed Taekwondo star Aaron Cook nationality to Moldovan .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: Taekwondo star Aaron Cook is reported to have been aggrieved at being left out for London 2012 .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: British Olympic chief Bill Sweeney says Taekwondo star Aaron Cook was set on switching .