nonstarter

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

nonstarter
    n 1: a person with a record of failing; someone who loses
         consistently [syn: {failure}, {loser}, {nonstarter},
         {unsuccessful person}] [ant: {achiever}, {succeeder},
         {success}, {winner}]
    2: a horse that fails to run in a race for which it has been
       entered

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

nonstarter \nonstarter\ n.
   1. a person with a record of failing.

   Syn: loser, failure, unsuccessful person.
        [WordNet 1.5]

   2. A horse that fails to run in a race for which it has been
      entered.
      [WordNet 1.5]

   3. A proposal that will not receive serious consideration by
      those with authority to decide.
      [PJC] nonstick