British number two Aljaz Bedene will not be allowed to represent Great Britain in the Davis Cup, the International Tennis Federation has announced.
The Lawn Tennis Association had appealed against a rule brought in on January 1 forbidding players from representing two nations in the competition.
Bedene gained UK citizenship in March but was born in Slovenia and represented his former country three times in the Davis Cup between 2010 and 2012.
An ITF statement read: "The Committee rejected the appeals by the Lawn Tennis Association for Aljaz Bedene and by the Belarus Tennis Association for Maxim Dubarenco because they did not meet either the existing or former criteria of the eligibility rule."
The LTA can appeal the decision of the Davis Cup Committee to the ITF Board of Directors and it is understood they will be taking up that option.
Bedene's case had been based on his passport application being submitted before the new regulation was implemented.
The 25-year-old has been a UK resident for the past seven years, during which he has been training at Welwyn Garden City and has climbed to number 75 in the world rankings.
This week's French Open was Bedene's first as a British player but he was unable to come through a tough first round against Austria's Dominic Thiem, losing 6-3 6-4 6-7 (6/8) 6-3.
Britain will play France in the Davis Cup quarter-finals at Queen's in July.
Source: PA
