Pollard said he had no option [GALLO/GETTY]

Tennis Australia 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 on Friday, 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 decision has left us with no other option," Tennis Australia president Geoff Pollard said on Saturday.

"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."

Security review

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

Security in the sub-continent has been called into question following the ambush of the Sri Lanka cricket team's bus in Lahore, Pakistan, last month.

India also remains nervous after more than 150 people were killed in a three-day attack in Mumbai in November, but sports minister Manohar Singh Gill was disappointed by the decision.

"Australia should have come and played," he said.

"It is also, in my view, not correct to take quick and unjustified objections to playing in certain parts of the world, and by implication implying, that we, in future, play all sports, in certain other countries only.

"This is not likely to happen."

Gill also said it was unfair to equate the situation in India with that of Pakistan.

"Since independence our sports events have been incident free and enjoyed by the people," Gill he said.

"Our assertions, have been found more than satisfactory, by the Davis Cup committee and by the world tennis federation."

Election clash

The Indian cricket board moved the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 league to South Africa after the government said providing security would be a problem due to clash of dates with the general election.

Australia's Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald said he was angry with the ITF and pointed to events surrounding the election that suggested security forces were being stretched.

"It is just irresponsible. Surely some thought must be given to the players' safety," Fitzgerald said.

"I believe they say the election is not a cause for concern, the IPL moving is not relevant and that an ATP tournament held in January shows it is safe to play in Chennai.

"So what about the fact that dozens of people are being killed along the campaign trail of the election? A train was hijacked this week, but that does not alter their thoughts? Did the IPL move for no reason?

"This decision makes no sense. We have worked so hard to get back in to World Group contention, to have it snatched away like this is gut wrenching."

Under Davis Cup rules, Tennis Australia now could be banned from the competition for 12 months and face a substantial fine.

Three weeks ago the ITF banned the city of Malmo from hosting future Davis Cup ties for five years and fined Swedish tennis officials $25,000 after the host nation decided to stage the World Group tie against Israel behind closed doors.

"It interests me that though the UK has had terrorists incidents, Australia will be going for the Ashes cricket in May, and play before crowds of 30,000 or more, with obvious security concerns," Gill added.