Heigl won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama for her work on "Grey's Anatomy" last year.

"I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination and in an effort to maintain the integrity of the academy organization, I withdrew my name from contention," Heigl told the Los Angeles Times' Gold Derby blog. "In addition, I did not want to potentially take away an opportunity from an actress who was given such materials."

E! Online said ABC declined to comment on Heigl's decision.

Nominations for the 60th annual Emmy Awards are to be announced July 17. The awards are to be handed out Sept. 21 in Los Angeles.