Former Discus world champion Irina Yatchenko of Belarus. (Picture Alliance)

Belarus' 2003 Discus world champion Irina Yatchenko formally announced her retirement from international competition on Wednesday.

In a ceremony at the Belarus National Olympic Committee headquarters in Minsk, Yatchenko was presented with commemorative medals and gifts in recognition of her career.

Her last competition was the IAAF World Championships last summer but, sadly it ended in disappointment as she failed to register a valid throw in the qualifying rounds.

Yatchenko now 44, was one of the very few athletes still competing who also pulled on the red vest of the former Soviet Union, having made her major championship debut at the 1990 European Athletics Championships.

In addition to her 2003 world title, she also got on the podium twice at the Olympic Games, winning bronze medals in 2000 and 2004.

She had less luck at the European Athletics Championships, contesting three finals but her highest position was fifth place 20 years ago in Split.

In addition to Yatchenko, Discus thrower Vasiliy Kaptyukh and sprinter Natalia Safronnikova also announced their international retirement.

Kaptyukh won the 1996 Olympic Games bronze medal and also finished third at the 1995 and 2003 World Championships. Safronnikova won the 200m bronze and silver medals at the 2001 and 2004 World Championships respectively.