銆€銆€BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Family members of Mo Yan on Wednesday denied the Nobel Prize winner is to star in a cigarette advertisement.

銆€銆€Clarifying her father did not accept any commercial endorsement offer,Mo's daughter Guan Xiaoxiao posted on the twitter-like microblogging website of Tencent, "My father did not, does not, and will not endorse any tobacco products ever."

銆€銆€Guan Moxin, a brother of Mo, said he had no idea of any commercial endorsement.

銆€銆€Managers with the Beijing Genuine & Profound Culture Development Co., Ltd., Mo's publisher, also denied the rumor.

銆€銆€Their statements were made after an online post said Mo would be starring in a local pricey cigarette advertisement. The brand, named "Taishanfoguang," allegedly costs 20,120 yuan (3199 U.S. dollars) per carton, or 20 packs.

銆€銆€The post, released on Tuesday on a tobacco-themed forum, also included three photographs. One captured a luxurious cigarette carton with Mo's image and another with cigarettes and the names of the writer's works. The third picture was of Mo in a smoking scene with words "Mo Yan has three cigarettes respectively for Sweden, for his hometown Gaomi and one between his fingers to inspire writing."

銆€銆€Mo could not be reached for comment.

銆€銆€The cigarette brand is owned by China Tobacco Shandong Industrial Co., Ltd., and the company said there was no such advertisement.

銆€銆€"Our company did not develop any brand related to Mo Yan, or advertise any brands with the images of him," said Liu Aiguo, the company office director.

銆€銆€The firm issued a statement on its website later on Wednesday. It said it did not entrust any companies or individuals to design "Taishan (foguang) for a Mo Yan limited edition."

銆€銆€Despite the denial, tobacco control experts believe the company is actually behind the post and that its advertising purpose has been achieved.

銆€銆€Yang Gonghuan, Chinese Association for Tobacco Control deputy head, said the company may have turned to Mo for commercial endorsement but was rejected.

銆€銆€"The company just released the actually-failed endorsement information to make their products known making use of Mo, a household name after he won the Nobel Prize," said Yang.

銆€銆€Although tobacco advertising is banned in China, tobacco companies have used obscure ways to make their products known, such as donating money to schools and sponsoring health research, Yang said.

銆€銆€China signed the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2003, made effective from January 2006.

銆€銆€Yang urged the government to better implement the framework and forbid tobacco companies' advertising in such ways.