SYDNEY, Australia -- Australia will refuse to send a team to cycling's world track championships in China because of SARS.

The championships are scheduled for the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen from July 30-Aug. 3.

"We are not prepared to risk the health and safety of our cyclists,'' said Mike Victor, president of Cycling Australia.

The International Cycling Union is expected to decide this week if the championships will be moved to another country.

Victor said the information he has received from his government and the World Health Organization is that the threat from severe acute respiratory syndrome is unlikely to ease by the end of July.''

"It would be irresponsible of us to put our athletes at risk when there is a danger of them becoming infected,'' he said.

SARS has killed at least 139 people in China since November, with 3,106 cases of infection. Nationwide, nearly 10,000 people who might have been exposed to the virus have been put under quarantine at home.

China delayed the start of its soccer season because of SARS. The women's world ice hockey championship and an international rugby tournament were scrapped. Two English Premier League teams called off trips to mainland China and Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, badminton's world championships next month received approval from British health officials despite SARS concerns.

The sport's power base is Asia, which includes some of the areas hardest hit by severe acute respiratory syndrome. About 350 players from 48 countries -- many from Asia -- are to participate in the May 12-18 event in Birmingham.

The UK Department of Heath said Tuesday it told the International Badminton Federation there was no reason to call off the tournament.

On Monday, the IBF had suggested there was a good chance the event would be postponed.

No deaths from SARS have been reported in Britain.