LONDON (AP) — British taekwondo star Aaron Cook will fight the decision to exclude him from the Olympic team and is even considering legal action, his coach Patrice Remarck said on Thursday.

Cook is the top-ranked fighter in his division, but has been repeatedly sidelined in the selection process by national taekwondo officials — even after the British Olympic Association ordered them to reconsider their nomination.

Instead of Cook, the U.K. taekwondo body chose Lutalo Muhammad, ranked 104. Remarck said the decision was "a disgrace" and vowed it will not force Cook to give up on his Olympic dream.

"Aaron is a born fighter and he is continuing to fight for his right to compete," Remarck told The Associated Press. "He is exploring all his options, including legal action if necessary."

The 21-year-old fighter is top-ranked in his division and has won several major tournaments in the past year, mostly recently the European Championships in May.

On Thursday, the World Taekwondo Federation announced the start its own investigation into Cook's exclusion, saying that Britain's decision plunged the sport into "disrepute."

A statement by the world body said it was "extremely disappointed" at Britain's selection process of the taekwondo Olympians for the London Games.

"The manner of the selection is bringing our sport into disrepute among the U.K. media and major Olympic stakeholders due to a perceived lack of transparency," the statement said.

Last week, BAO ordered the U.K. taekwondo body to reconvene its selection panel after Cook appealed the exclusion. The panel met again Wednesday and upheld its decision to name Muhammad, who has won only one major competition in a heavier weight category and has been training in Britain's elite program for less than a year.

An independent observer from the BOA attended Wednesday's meeting along with Remarck, who blasted the selection panel and said it was biased in Muhammad's favor.

"They look like idiots," he said. "If you look at results and experience, Aaron is clearly the superior fighter.

"It's a disgrace the best fighter in the world is not being chosen," Remarck added.

Muhammad's nomination must be ratified by the BOA, which started to review the selection process and whether proper protocol was followed. The BOA said it would consult with the World Taekwondo Federation and the BOA board of directors before making its final decision.

Another consultation will be held on Friday.

British officials had argued Muhammad was a better choice because he's slightly taller than Cook and therefore more capable of landing head kicks, which score the most points in taekwondo. Remarck dismissed the argument. He said Cook consistently attacks with head kicks and has beaten the best fighters in the world with his strategy.

British sports minister Hugh Robertson described the ongoing taekwondo spat as "embarrassing," and warned he might take action if the dispute isn't resolved soon.

Cook had a falling out with the British taekwondo body after a disagreement over their training strategies last year. He has since been training with his own set of coaches in a gym his parents built in the backyard of their Manchester home.

Cook has defeated 10 of the 15 fighters, who will be competing in his weight division at the London Games. Muhammad has beaten one.