The withdrawal comes after the controversy surrounding Israel's participation in the competition, but Conchita Wurst does not say the decision was made because of it.
"I'm moving on and focusing more on other projects and letting other things take shape," writes Conchita Wurst, the alter ego of drag artist Tom Neuwirth.
Conchita Wurst won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2014 and was seen as a natural part of Austria's organization of this year's contest in May. Austrian broadcaster ORF said in a statement that it "respects Conchita Wurst's decision."
