The International Tennis Federation (ITF) have refused to give Kelly Liggan the necessary clearance to play for Ireland in the Federation Cup in Turkey next month.

Liggan (20), whose father is Irish, was born in Spain and holds an Irish passport. She has played in National championships here and Tennis Ireland were hopeful that she would be eligible for international status which would enable her to play singles in Turkey.

Tennis Ireland, however, have been informed by the ITF that Liggan does not meet the requirements laid down for international participation.

Liggan qualifies on grounds of holding an Irish passport and the fact that she has not played previously for another country. But her application falls down because she hasn't lived in Ireland for at least two years.

Tennis Ireland chief administrator Des Allen admitted to being disappointed by the ITF decision but said: "It is something that we have to accept. The rules must be applied, we were hoping that the ITF would have been a little flexible given the circumstances."

Liggan was required to deputise for Claire Curran who cannot acquire leave of absence from the University of California at Berkeley.

The Ireland selectors have called up Aoife O'Neill, a UCD student, who has had to be facilitated by the Belfield authorities in having her examinations rescheduled.