The 35-year-old Russian confirmed his decision at a press conference following the last International Biathlon Union (IBU) World Cup of the season, which concluded on home snow in Khanty-Mansiysk yesterday.

Tcherezov won silver at the Turin 2006 Olympics in the 4x7.5 kilometres relay, and he added bronze in the same discipline four years later in Vancouver.

He also won two World Championship gold medals in the event, in 2007 and 2008, as well as the world mixed relay title in Hochfilzen, Austria in 2005. 

His career was blighted by a nasty leg break while roller-skiing in 2011, during a summer biathlon competition.

Never able to return to the same standards, there was disappointment when he was not selected for his home Olympics in Sochi in 2014.

"After the injury, I remembered what it was like to be on the highest level emotionally, but physically I could not get to that level," he said.

"I had big ambitions to come back and no understanding of how serious my injury was.

"I think I was rushing too much."

Tcherezov, who was not selected for the Russian team this season, may now go into coaching.

"I attained 90 per cent of my goals that I set before my biathlon career," he said.

"An individual Olympic gold medal, of course, would have been nice."