AARON Cook has again been overlooked for the 2012 Olympics.

Despite being ranked as the world’s best, the Dorchester fighter’s dreams of competing in London appear to be hanging by a thread after British Taekwondo selectors again picked Lutalo Muhammad for the -80kg weight division in favour of the 21-year-old.

It is now the third time Muhammad, who has become the victim of hate mail, has been chosen ahead of Cook, with the British Olympic Association rejecting the initial decision last week.

The BOA now have less than 24 hours to consider the selection but could be forced to accept the decision if the independent observer, who sat in on yesterday’s meeting, deems that procedures were correctly followed.

GB Taekwondo’s preference is certainly a controversial one given that Cook is the reigning European champion in the -80kg category – a division in which London-born Muhammad, aged 20, is ranked only 59 in the world.

A GB Taekwondo statement read: “GB Taekwondo can confirm that following a reconvened selection panel meeting, a nomination has been made to the British Olympic Association for the outstanding male -80kg position.

“We now await the decision of the BOA as to the formal ratification of that nomination.”

BOA chief executive Andy Hunt said what was important now was that process was properly assessed to ensure it has been fair.

He said: “We have received the formal selection nomination following the selection panel which took place in Manchester.

“We are now going to wait to receive the selection panel minutes which will allow us to judge procedurally whether the selection panel adhered to the conditions we set down, and those that came out of the previous appeal judgement.

“Once we have those and the report back from the independent member from the BOA, who was one of our lawyers who attended the whole selection panel which included the voting process, we will convene our own panel to decide whether we are willing to ratify the nomination or not.”

Prior to yesterday’s announcement, Cook’s camp wrote a letter to Hugh Robertson, Minister for Sport & Olympics, outlining his concerns ahead of the selection meeting.

In it the former Thomas Hardye pupil, who narrowly missed out on a bronze medal at the Beijing Games four years ago, laid bare his vastly superior record.

Cook’s agent Jamie Cunningham, CEO of Professional Sports Group, said: “We can confirm that Aaron Cook wrote a private letter to Lord Moynihan, copying both Sue Nicholls from UK Sport and Hugh Robertson MP, expressing his concerns for the current selection process of British Taekwondo for the -80kg spot for Team GB in the Olympic Games and his treatment.

“We can also confirm that, following this letter, Aaron and his coach Patrice were told of (yesterday’s) selection meeting at 7.15am and had less than 24 hours to prepare.

“We have only ever discussed facts. Lutalo’s record as an athlete in the Olympic category of -80kg does not compare to Aaron’s. Lutalo has never won an international event in the Olympic weight category of -80kg. There was not one athlete in Lutalo’s -87kg victory at the European Champion-ships who will be at the Olympic Games.

“Lutalo is not ranked in the top 100 according to the Olympic ranking. Aaron won the European and Olympic Test Event in the -80kg Olympic weight category. Aaron has beaten seven of the top 15 of his Olympic rivals in their most recent fights and lost to one, whilst Lutalo has not beaten any of them.

“Aaron is ranked number one in the world and Olympic rankings because he is the best athlete at his weight class in the world. These are all facts, not opinion.”

On the subject of Muhammad receiving hate mail as a result of his selection, Cunningham added: “Aaron is disappointed to hear that Lutalo has received hate mail.

“No real fan of Aaron Cook would send such mail. We have always stated that we see Lutalo’s involvement in this mess as being a direct result of the decision by the Performance Team of British Taek-wondo to recommend Lutalo for selection – wrongly in our opinion.”