Slovenia have suffered a hammer blow to their hopes of qualifying for the Beijing Olympics with knee problems ruling playmaker Sani Becirovic out of the EuroBasket.

The 26-year-old has been experiencing pain in his knees since the end of Panathinaikos' all-conquering campaign in both Greece and Europe, and doctors have advised him to rest.

"I'm sad, but I must say this: I'm simply not ready for such a big effort as the EuroBasket," Becirovic said.

"This entire season, I've faced problems with big or minor injuries, but even while on short vacation after the season was ended, I've suffered pain.

		“	With huge pain in my heart, I faced a final decision. I won't participate at EuroBasket	„
		Sani Becirovic

"The time has come for me to face the reality. And it is not bright, at the moment."

The 1.95m Becirovic is one of the best players ever to emerge from Slovenia.

He looked a certainty for the NBA after averaging 20.5 points per game in the 2000-01 Euroleague, but went down with a career-threatening knee injury the following season with Virtus Bologna.

The Denver Nuggets still used their second-round pick on him in the 2003 NBA draft, and he eventually returned to the court in Italy with Varese and Fortitudo Bologna before moving to Panathinaikos before last season.

"The latest medical tests showed that my physical condition is not good enough for big tournament such as a EuroBasket," Becirovic said.

"And, I can't lie to either myself, or Slovenian head coach (Ales Pipan). I'm not ready.

"Despite Pipan being ready to give me some time to rest, to finish with my rehab, it's simply not enough at the moment. With huge pain in my heart, I faced a final decision. I won't participate at EuroBasket in Spain."

Pipan has already been told by NBA trio Bostjan Nachbar of New Jersey, Primoz Brezec of Charlotte and recently crowned champion Beno Udrih of the San Antonio Spurs they will not play.

Real Madrid's defensive stalwart Marko Milicic is also unavailable while he recovers from a knee injury that forced him to miss most of last season.

Slovenia are in the Group D, the so-called "group of death', with Italy, France and Poland, so the absence of Becirovic complicates their chances of progressing from Alicante to Madrid for the Qualifying Round.

Spain have already booked their place at the Olympics after winning the FIBA World Championship so the two highest finishers other than the EuroBasket hosts will take up spots in Beijing.

The next four best-placed teams will enter an additional qualifying tournament next year.

"We agreed to do some additional medical tests, and they've shown he's not ready," Pipan said.

"Unfortunately, we'll face our tasks in Spain without Sani's help. And, his health, the condition of his knees, that's something which is more important than EuroBasket.

"He wanted to play, but it would be impossible to take that kind of risk to put him on the court with pains, while he's receiving medical treatment."

Slovenia begin their preparations for the EuroBasket on July 21.

Smiljan Pavic, Miha Zupan, Hasan Rizvic and Sandi Cebular are reserves in the preliminary squad, but Pipan has yet to decide who will replace Becirovic.