THREE of the leading contenders for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year are set to snub the glitzy awards ceremony next week.
Lewis Hamilton, Mo Farah and Chris Froome are highly unlikely to attend the bash in Liverpool on December 17.
Formula One world champion Hamilton, who claimed his fourth championship earlier this year, is the second favourite behind Anthony Joshua for the prize.
But Beeb bosses have already been informed that he is not due to be on Merseyside.
And according to the Guardian, Tour de France winner Froome and legendary Olympian Farah are also unable to be at the Echo Arena.
Hopes were high that Farah, 34, would be at the ceremony following his relocation to Britain from America to train for the London Marathon.
However, his family are still in the moving process and those commitments are due to prevent the four-time gold medallist from attending.
Farah has not hidden his lack of love for the award in the past after repeatedly missing out on it.
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He said it was “weird” not to be in the top three last year after winning double gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Farah said: “Yeah, you do think a little bit like, what can you do?
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“But racing and winning medals for my country is what drives me and no one can take away what I have achieved.
“That means more than anything else, along with putting my GB vest on.”
Meanwhile, cyclist Froome has told BBC he will miss the show due to being on a warm weather training camp in Mallorca.
2017 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award contenders
Elise Christie (Speed skating)
Mo Farah (Athletics)
Chris Froome (Cycling)
Lewis Hamilton (Formula 1)
Anthony Joshua (Boxing)
Harry Kane (Football)
Johanna Konta (Tennis)
Jonnie Peacock (Para-athletics)
Adam Peaty (Swimming)
Jonathan Rea (Motorcycling)
Anya Shrubsole (Cricket)
Bianca Walkden (Taekwondo)
And he said flying over to Liverpool for it would disrupt his preparations for next year’s Giro d’Italia.
Hamilton, who lifted the accolade in 2014, is the main threat to Joshua for the award.
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The boxer is odds-on to win the trophy following his stunning world title victory over Wladimir Klitschko.
The organisers have been assured that AJ, 28, will collect his prize in person if he wins.
But a contingency plan has no come into effect to set-up a video link should Hamilton, Farah or Froome finish in the top three.
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