Kenya's 200m holder Carvin Nkanata finishes last after passport mix-up

Carvin Nkanata got the next available plane from his base in Miami, United States to be in time for yesterday's 200m heats, but he could be catching the next available plane again back to the US.

Nkanata finished last in heat eight with the first top athletes across the line securing passage into the next round. He clocked 21.43 with the winner of the heat LeShawn Meritt of the US clocking 20.15.

Another Kenyan in the 200m heats Mike Mokamba, did not also start his race, which means there will be no Kenyan in the next round of the event.

Nkanata arrived here at 4am this morning just hours to the race and after the result, he could be asking himself whether it was worth travelling all the way from the US to take part in these Olympics having earlier been told he could not take part.

The Kenyan with a US passport was until very late on Monday not in the start list for the 200m heats following issues with his accreditation and his passport.

Even though he was entered in Team Kenya for the Olympics he did not have a Kenyan passport, yet it is a requirement by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that one should hold a passport of the country one is representing.

As if that was not enough, when he arrived at the Olympic Village, he could not get access as the athletics Team manager had already sent his accreditation to the United States hoping the athlete would get it before arriving in Brazil.

Nkanata, however, appealed to be allowed to take part in the competition and the IOC gave the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) the task of taking up the case and decide on whether the Kenyan would run or not.

By Monday night Nkanata's name was not in the start list, but a revised version sent yesterday morning included him in the eighth heat after IAAF cleared him to run.