The 11-times Paralympic champion, speaking after a photo-shoot at the House of Commons to support the launch of the first-ever Women's Sporting Calendar, claimed the controversy has been a major means of raising the issues involved.

"The row over the BBC Sports Personality of the Year has actually worked really well for women's sport," she told insidethegames.

"It's not the BBC's fault, but they have got the blame for it.

"There's nothing wrong with the idea of getting sports editors to vote on the shortlist – except that they are all men.

"But I think it's turned out to be a positive thing for the cause of women in sport.

"The Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation has found it really hard to get media coverage, but this has given them a big opportunity, so that's great."

Baroness Grey-Thompson also added her support to the majority of British athletes who are in favour of retaining the British Olympic Association (BOA) bylaw preventing any Briton found guilty of a serious doping offence from competing at any future Olympics.

"We should keep it," she said.

"Absolutely.

"I have always taken a strong line on doping abuse and I think the Olympics should be protected.

"I know it means some British athletes won't be at the Games, and in a way that's a shame, but the rules were clear at the time."

The BOA have lodged an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) ruling that their bylaw – established since 1992 – was non-compliant, and a decision is not expected until April.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
December 2011: After the all men's shortlist, contenders for BBC Young Sports Personality award all female
December 2011: Exclusive - British female sports stars express disappointment at BBC Sports Personality of the Year shortlist
December 2011: MPs accuse BBC of "bias" over all-male shortlist for SPOTY
November 2011: Pickering calls for overhaul of BBC Sports Personality of the Year voting system
November 2011: David Owen - Why the Sports Personality of the Year shortlist isn't short enough