Japan-born comedian Hiroshi Neko, Cambodia's pick to represent it in the Olympic marathon in London this summer, has been rejected by the world ruling body for track and field, which says he is not yet eligible to represent the Southeast Asian nation.
The rejection by the International Association of Athletics Federations was conveyed in a letter to Pen Vuthy, secretary general of the Khmer Amateur Athletes Federation. A copy of the letter was obtained Tuesday by Kyodo News.
It says Neko "will be eligible to represent Cambodia in international competitions under IAAF rules starting from Oct. 18, 2012," suggesting he is ineligible before that date.