autodescartarse

To take oneself out of contention — for a job, a competition, a candidacy — before anyone else makes that call. Common in sports and political reporting about candidates announcing they won't run.

• El entrenador se autodescartó para el cargo por motivos de salud. — The coach ruled himself out for the position for health reasons.
• Varios candidatos se autodescartaron antes de la votación interna. — Several candidates withdrew themselves before the internal vote.
• Prefirió autodescartarse a esperar un rechazo público. — He preferred to rule himself out rather than wait for a public rejection.

It's not interchangeable with renunciar (to resign from a post already held) — autodescartarse is about withdrawing from consideration before being chosen, not stepping down from an existing role.

Often confused with renunciar.