The Commonwealth champion has been one of Britain's most prominent athletes since he burst on to the scene in 1999 when he won silver at the World Championships in Seville at the age of 21.

His failure to qualify for this summer's Olympics has led the 30-year-old to call time on a career that has been blighted by injury.

Macey has only competed in six decathlons over the last 10 years and has had to undergo several operations including one to reconstruct his elbow.

More recently he broke down in tears at a press conference after a groin injury ruled him out of the European Championships in Gothenburg in 2006.

"My heart is there, my mind is there but my body has finally given in," he said.

Macey revealed he had not taken the decision to retire lightly, describing it as the most difficult decision of his life.

"I'm struggling to come to terms with it, I really am," he said. "I still feel in my heart and in my head that I can win medals.

"I'm good enough but I just don't think I can stay healthy enough for long enough to do the training that gets me in a position to compete at the top level."

"I don't want to retire. Athletics is the only thing I've ever known. The decision has been made and I'll live by it."

Controversial sprinter Katerina Thanou has been named in Greece's provisional squad for the Games in Beijing.

Thanou, 33, was banned for two years after a doping scandal that overshadowed the 2004 Olympics. Thanou and fellow sprinter Costas Kenteris missed a drugs test and were accused of staging a motorcycle crash hours before they were due to appear in the opening ceremony.