BBC director of sport Barbara Slater has responded after heavy criticism following the decision to leave Josh Kerr off their list of Sports Personality of the Year nominees.
Kerr produced one of the highlights of the year when he won at the World Championships back in the summer.
The Scot sensationally beat Jakob Ingebrigtsen to claim gold in the 1500m back in August.
Despite that achievement, however, Kerr has been snubbed by the BBC.
The BBC have faced a backlash after choosing to leave Josh Kerr off their list of Sports Personality of the Year nominees
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Mary Earps is the favourite to be crowned SPOTY, with Stuart Broad, Frankie Dettori, Alfie Hewett, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Rory McIlroy also making the cut.
Speaking last week, Kerr admitted he wanted to see the BBC's meeting notes following his omission.
“I’m in a very cut and dried sport. You’re fast enough, you run a qualifying time, you get into the event," he said.
"Not a lot of things throughout my whole career have been dependent on the judgment of others.
"I’ve always been taught to leave with no doubt out there but obviously I left a bit of doubt.
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“I’d love to see the minutes of the meeting if it’s ever going to come out.
"I was hoping to get my flights covered actually to be honest, but I don’t think that will be quite covered this time!
"But, no, every time I can get back to the UK, I am going to come back. It is a big family time for me.
“It’s such a prestigious event and an award that I’d have loved to have been involved in. But I’m still going.
"I’m going to be there to represent British Athletics and to support KJT [Katarina Johnson-Thompson].
"I’m not sitting there crying about it. I’m getting out the door and getting my work in for next year.
“KJT had such an amazing comeback from 2019.
"I was someone who was able to bring a gold medal home for the team, and so was she.
"And over many more days. I was only three and a half minutes. I don’t know if that got taken into consideration.
"I’m excited to hopefully support her in winning.”
And Slater has now responded to the criticism aimed at the broadcaster, with Lord Sebastian Coe among the individuals to vent their fury.
She told the Daily Mail: "We always have people we would love to put on the list, but we can’t.
"We had so many world champions. We had Jake Jarman in gymnastics, Matt Richards in swimming, where do you draw the line?
"There’s going to be some that don’t make it. Even when we extended the list, it didn’t take the problem away.
"The criteria is sporting achievement but it is impact as well.
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BBC chief Barbara Slater has explained the decision to snub Josh Kerr from Sports Personality of the Year award nominees
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"The panel will have robust debate and a lot of consideration is given arguing the case for one person above another.
"But the truth is, we are going to have worthy people who just fall short."
Slater also insists the SPOTY award remains as prestigious as ever, too.
"The programme has a special place in the heart of the British public," she added.
"It’s every bit as relevant. You’ve only got to look at the column inches."
