London 2012 Olympics: Aaron Cook handed reprieve as BOA refuse to ratify British Taekwondo's nomination The BOA implied today that too much importance had been given to this area, which the WTF say is simply a change of interpretation rather than the rules, and also suggested Cook was discriminated against by not having personal representation at the original selection hearing. STUK's selectors also appear to have ignored one of the world governing body's guidelines that athletes receiving places should have been in the world top 20 for two years to April 2012. Cook has never been outside it, Muhammad has never been in it. In a statement the BOA called for STUK to convene a new selection procedure, with an independent observer present, and for the process to be applied fairly to both Muhammad and Cook. The statement read: "On the basis of the process that was followed by STUK in arriving at its nomination for the men's under-80 kg weight category, it was the unanimous decision of the OQS panel that it could not ratify the nomination. The OQS panel has written to STUK and requested that it reconvene its selection committee at the earliest opportunity and consider the following in bringing forward a nomination for the men's under-80 kg weight category: 1) The clear guidance that was provided by an earlier Appeal Panel that directed all criteria should be weighed fairly and not disproportionately by the Selection Committee in evaluating athletes; in particular, a disproportionate amount of emphasis should not be given to the so-called "head shot rule" in international taekwondo, which is subject to different interpretation, or any other factor 2) Both athletes should receive equal and in-person representation before the Selection Committee, preferably by their personal coach 3) All members of the Selection Committee who have a right to vote are in fact encouraged to do so as part of the nomination process 4) The BOA wishes to have an independent observer attend the Selection Committee Meeting.