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In a statement, the association said it was
"impossible to overcome" security concerns about host city
Damascus, especially as the team would have to get there via
land from neighbouring countries.
"Based on the priority given to the safety of the team members,
it is determined not to participate in this competition," it
said.
Taiwan, which competes at the Olympics as "Chinese Taipei" to
avoid political problems with China which views the island as
its own territory, has never won any Olympic medals for
basketball.
The qualifying basketball competition is being held in Syria
from Aug. 12-20.
A violent crackdown by President Bashar al-Assad on peaceful
pro-democracy protesters in 2011 led to a civil war, with Moscow
backing Assad and Washington supporting the opposition.
Millions of people fled Syria with millions more internally
displaced. Fighting has since abated with Assad back in control
of most of Syria.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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