text: Great Britain's medal hopes at the 2016 Olympics have taken a hit after potential gold-winning Taekwondo fighter Aaron Cook’s switch to represent Moldova was confirmed. The 24-year-old from Dorset, ranked No 2 in the world in the sub-80kg class, has had his citizenship change ratified after the breakdown of his relationship with the British Olympic Association. Cook, who has not competed for GB since missing out on selection for London 2012, appears to have been taken under the wing of the Moldovan Taekwondo Federation and its billionaire president Igor Iuzefovici. Taekwondo fighter Aaron Cook's application to switch allegiances to Moldova has been approved . Cook has been granted Moldovan citizenship British Olympic Association plans to fight for them in Rio 2016 . The extent of their financial support is unclear but Cook has received a Moldovan passport and will compete for them at Rio 2016. His first outing is likely to be at the World Championships in Russia next month. Cook has said he felt he had no other option due to a lack of funding and support from GB.
target: Aaron Cook fought for Great Britain at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 .
  Cook felt he was unfairly left out of the London 2012 Olympics team .
  British Olympic Association approved application for nationality change .
  Cook has received funding from Moldovan billionaire Igor Iuzefovici .