The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has withdrawn the Oscar nomination from one of the contenders for Best Original Song at this year’s ceremony.

The musician, Bruce Broughton, who wrote the song “Alone Yet Not Alone” – for the independent Christian film of the same name – is a former Academy governor and current executive committee member of the Academy. It’s emerged that he wrote to members of the Academy’s music branch to inform them that he’d submitted his song.

The Academy’s president Cheryl Boone Isaacs explained the decision to rescind his nomination, saying “No matter how well-intentioned the communication, using one’s position as a former governor and current executive committee member to personally promote one’s own Oscar submission creates the appearance of an unfair advantage.”

The Board decided that Broughton’s actions were inconsistent with the Academy’s promotional regulations.

“Alone Yet Not Alone” will not be replaced in the category, leaving just four songs competing for the honour on 2nd March.

The Golden Globe winner, U2’s “Ordinary Love” from Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, is up against songs from Despicable Me 2, Frozen and Her.