Australia will not send its Davis Cup team to India for next month's tie because of security concerns, Tennis Australia (TA) said, knowing the country could now face a year-long ban and substantial fine.

TA had appealed the International Tennis Federation's (ITF) decision to keep the May 8-10 Asia/Oceania group I tie in Chennai, citing security concerns.

The ITF, however, rejected the appeal and upheld the decision of the Davis Cup committee to keep the tie in the southern Indian city, which is considered by Indian authorities to be a safe destination.

The ITF had based its original decision to keep the tie in India after a review by its security consultants.

"The ITF decision has left us with no other option," Tennis Australia president Geoff Pollard said in a statement.

"We cannot send the team. It is extremely disappointing.

"It would be irresponsible of us to send our players into an area of such high risk.

Davis Cup is very important to us but some things are more important than tennis."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/04/25/2552540.htm