Four UK soldiers who "forced" an Iraqi boy into a canal and let him drown have been condemned by a judge investigating civilian deaths in the Iraq War.

Ahmed Jabbar Kareem Ali, who was 15, died in Basra in May 2003 after he was detained on suspicion of looting.
The British judge's report said Ahmed should never have been detained or made to enter the canal, and should have been rescued when he was "floundering".
The Ministry of Defence said it was "extremely sorry".
UK forces entered Basra City on the night of 6 April 2003, as part of the invasion of Iraq, and rapidly took control of the area, although they encountered widespread looting.
The incident took place after soldiers were called to a derelict industrial compound where they found 20 to 30 suspected looters.
After a chase, Ahmed was one of four suspected looters who were first made to roll around in a pool of stagnant water. They were then taken in a Warrior armed vehicle to the Shatt-Al Basra canal and forced to enter the water there.
According to one of the others detained, Ayad Salim Hanoon, the four were forced to enter the canal "at gunpoint".
He also gave evidence that the soldiers threw stones to force them into deeper water, although the report was unable to establish whether or not this claim was true.
The report does acknowledge that Mr Hanoon's evidence "has been subject to extensive criticism", including "mistakes or misunderstandings" or problems with translation.
The report by the Iraq Fatality Investigations, led by former High Court judge Sir George Newman, described the soldiers' actions as a "clumsy, ill-directed and bullying piece of conduct, engaged in without consideration of the risk of harm to which it could give rise".
It criticised their "manifest failure" to take action to save the boy's life.
"His death ensued because he was forced by the soldiers to enter the canal, where, in the presence of the soldiers, he was seen to be in difficulty, and to go under the water.
"Notwithstanding the unlawful treatment involved in getting him into the water, his death could have been avoided because he could and should have been rescued after it became clear that he was floundering."
The four soldiers involved, who were granted anonymity in the report, were acquitted of manslaughter at a court martial in 2006.
Timeline: Iraq War
UK military deaths in Iraq
The report raised "grave concerns" about their ability to have coped with the responsibilities imposed on them and about the adequacy of the resources available to British forces in Iraq.
It added there were also concerns about training and "the ability of the occupying force to take on the burden to act as both policemen and combatants simultaneously".
Basra at the time had "descended into a state of chaos" and there was no assistance from Iraqi police or legal processes in place to deal with the problem of looting, which had been "beyond the capabilities of the British Forces to reduce", it continued.
It said guidelines on how to deal with suspected looters, which involved short periods of detention before handing them over to a higher chain of command, were "totally unrealistic and impractical".
This had led to soldiers meting out "on-the-spot justice", with the punishment differing "according to the temperament and inclination of the soldier in command".
Of the Basra case, the report added: "[The four suspected looters] had been compelled to get into the Warrior by fully armed soldiers.
"They probably had no knowledge or understanding of what was going to happen. They are likely to have feared for their lives.
"None of the soldiers gave a satisfactory explanation for their actions in directing the looters into the canal."
Part two of the report, which will draw conclusions to be learned from the incident, will be released at a future date.
The Iraq War, in which President Saddam Hussein was overthrown by a US-led coalition including the UK, led to the deaths of at least 150,000 Iraqis, with more than one million citizens displaced. Violence has continued in the country since then, and so-called Islamic State has taken control of parts of it.
More than 200 British service personnel and civilians died during the conflict.
The Iraq Fatality Investigations were set up in 2013 to examine a small number of Iraqi deaths that involved British troops.
Similar to inquests, they do not consider issues of individual or collective culpability.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "This was a grave incident for which we are extremely sorry.
"We are committed to investigating allegations of wrongdoing by UK forces and will use Sir George's findings to learn lessons to help ensure nothing like this happens again."


The case of a boy's death nearly 40 years ago is to be "looked at" by the government after claims emerged in a TV documentary.

Newspaper boy Carl Bridgewater, 13, died at Yew Tree Farm in Prestwood near Stourbridge, West Midlands, in 1978.
The ex-wife of Bert Spencer, who police questioned at the time, has spoken about how he disposed of a gun. He has always denied the murder.
Policing Minister Mike Penning said: "We will look at... ongoing evidence."
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Carl was shot after apparently disturbing a burglary.
An ex-hospital secretary, who had provided Mr Spencer with what he described as a "cast-iron" alibi, told a Channel 4 documentary that she could not prove where he was on the day of the boy's killing.
In the programme, aired on Sunday, his ex-wife Janet also spoke about how he disposed of a legally owned shotgun and how she had come home to find him washing a green jumper which she never saw again.
Mr Spencer denied her claims and said: "My ex-wife blamed me for everything, including breast cancer."
Four men, who became known as the Bridgewater Four, were jailed for Carl's murder in 1979 but their convictions were quashed in 1997 amid concerns about police evidence.
James Robinson and cousins Michael and Vincent Hickey had spent 18 years in prison, while the fourth man, Patrick Molloy, died in prison in 1981, aged 53.
At the start of the programme, Mr Spencer reiterated his innocence and said: "I did not kill Carl Bridgewater, and I am here to prove to you that I did not."
Mr Penning said: "It is not the role of the Independent Police Complaints Commission to instruct the police how to investigate, but we will look at the case and at the ongoing evidence."
In a statement following the broadcast, Staffordshire Police said the matter was "not currently under investigation".
But it said "police will review the investigation in light of any new information or evidence being made available".
Months after the Bridgewater Four were jailed in 1979, Spencer shot dead friend Hubert Wilkes, 74, at Holloway House Farm in Kingswinford and served 15 years in jail.


The UK commitment to a rapid reaction force being set up by Nato is to be extended by three years, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has said.

Mr Fallon told the BBC's Andrew Marr show 1,000 troops would be sent next year and 3,000 in 2017, chiefly in response to the threat posed by Russia.
He accused Vladimir Putin of "sabre-rattling" and said it was important for the UK to commit to Nato's mission.
Tory backbenchers and US officials have expressed concerns at UK defence cuts.
On President Putin, Mr Fallon told the BBC: "He's clearly building up his conventional forces, he's modernising his nuclear weapons.
"So it is sabre rattling and that's why we have to continue to strengthen Nato, offer Nato more reassurance through these larger scale exercises.
"We're doing our bit, but it's very important we send Putin this message that we are determined in our commitment to the collective defence of Nato."
After 1,000 troops are sent next year and 3,000 the year after, a battle group will be committed in each year after that until 2021, Mr Fallon said.
In addition to this, he said UK Typhoons currently flying over the Baltic would be sent back next year.
A demand from the chancellor for a further Â£500m in Ministry of Defence cuts has fuelled worries that the UK may drop below Nato's target of spending 2% of GDP on defence.
When pressed on whether the UK would continue to meet that target, Mr Fallon said: "We can't set the budget on this programme, we set the budget in September, then you'll have your answer.
"But we already have three very strong commitments in our manifesto to go on increasing spend on equipment, to go on replacing the four ballistic submarines, and not to cut the Army further.
"There is your commitment."
BBC News political correspondent Chris Mason said the defence secretary was attempting to strike back against critics, but would know the pressure to do more for less was not likely to go away.
Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Fallon said the Nato boost showed ministers were determined to do "whatever it takes" to keep the country safe.
He pointed out the UK defence budget at Â£34bn a year was the fifth biggest in the world.
He also highlighted the UK's involvement in tackling Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, training it has undertaken in Afghanistan and Ukraine, and its aid efforts in Sierra Leone and Nepal.
"No country in Europe is playing such a strong global role," he said.
"This step-up in our international defence effort is needed because the world is becoming a darker place."
Mr Fallon added that "those who belittle our armed forces' efforts fail to recognise that our national security depends on tackling the causes of instability, not just treating the symptoms".
This included using "soft power," such as diplomacy and engagement, to help weaker countries build stronger institutions and law enforcement, and to promote women's rights, he said.
The British Army is already undergoing a 20% reduction in regular troop numbers, from 102,000 in 2010 to 82,000 in 2020.
This is to be accompanied by a rise in the number of reservists, from 24,000 to 30,000.
The Royal Navy and the RAF are both preparing to lose 5,000 regulars and gain 500 reservists over the same period.
In March, the US Army's most senior general spoke publicly about his fears of a shrinking British commitment to defence.
And when US President Obama discussed the UK's defence budget with David Cameron this month, he pressed him to enable Britain to meet the Nato target.
Mr Fallon said the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review would examine the threats the UK faced "and the capabilities we need to tackle them".


England seamers Anya Shrubsole and Katherine Brunt have joined Perth Scorchers for the Women's Big Bash League, which starts in December.

Yorkshire's Brunt, 31, took 16 wickets with an economy rate of 5.03 for Perth in last season's competition.
Somerset's Shrubsole, 24, is the second ranked bowler in T20 internationals but has not previously played in the WBBL.
England captain Heather Knight and former skipper Charlotte Edwards will also be featuring in the tournament.


UK unemployment rose by 21,000 to 1.7 million between December and February, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) says.

That is the first increase since the May-July period of last year.
The unemployment rate remained at 5.1%, which is still down on the same time last year, when it was 5.6%.
Earnings, including bonuses rose by 1.8% in the three months to February, which is a slowdown from the 2.1% rate for the previous three-month period.
"It's too soon to be certain, but with unemployment up for the first time since mid-2015 - and employment seeing its slowest rise since that period - it's possible that recent improvements in the labour market may be easing off," ONS statistician Nick Palmer said.
There were 31.41 million people in work in the three months , a rise of 20,000  on the September to November period.
Some economists believe uncertainty linked to the 23 June referendum on EU membership could be deterring companies from taking on new staff.
"Last week the Bank of England said that concerns about the EU referendum had begun to affect the real economy," said Ben Brettell, senior economist at Hargreaves Lansdown.
"The increase in unemployment announced today adds some weight to that hypothesis. It's possible businesses are delaying decisions about hiring and investment until after June's vote, which could lead to a slowdown in the first two quarters of this year.
"Nevertheless, the bigger picture is that the UK labour market remains in reasonable health," he added.
The increase in unemployment was too low to change the rate when expressed to one decimal place, which stayed at a decade low of 5.1%.
The figures also show that there were 5.35 million people employed in the public sector for December 2015. This was scarcely change compared with September 2015 but it was down 50,000 from a year earlier.
The ONS said the number of people employed in the public sector has been generally falling since March 2010.
In the private sector there were 26.07 million people employed for December 2015 - that is 113,000 more than for September 2015 and 529,000 more than for a year earlier.
In the October to December 2015 period the number of UK nationals working in the UK increased by 278,000 to 28.2 million compared with the same time in 2014. At the same time the number of non-UK nationals working in the UK increased by 254,000 to 3.22 million.


An Australian man has been charged with the "execution-style" killing of a 15-year-old boy who was shot in his bed.

Brayden Dillon was sleeping on Good Friday in April when a masked gunman entered his family's Sydney home and shot him in the head, police said.
On Monday, heavily armed officers arrested a 26-year-old man and charged him with murder.
It came hours after police released images of a car being driven in the area around the time of the shooting.
In April, police said the gunman had threatened Brayden's mother before entering his room and shooting him at close range.
His stepfather and young step-siblings were also in the house at the time.
"Brayden's murder was particularly callous," Detective Chief Inspector Mark Henney said on Monday.
He would have celebrated his 16th birthday on Wednesday, police said.
The man will appear in a Sydney court on Tuesday.
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It is the smell that you notice first of all - a bitter mixture of egg and cucumber that hangs in the air, and burns your nose and throat.

Local people say they have been washing down the streets and cleaning their houses constantly, but it will not go away.
It has been like this in Taza since this small town, about 20km (12 miles) south of the city of Kirkuk, was the target of what Iraqi officials say was a chemical weapons attack on 8 March.
A barrage of rockets was fired from the nearby village of Bashir, which is controlled by militants from the Sunni jihadist group, Islamic State (IS).
Some were loaded with what has been identified locally as sulphur mustard, a blistering agent, and chlorine.
"The rockets didn't explode, but when they landed a chemical agent seeped out," says Mojtaba Iri, a member of a local Shia Muslim defence unit.
"Many people didn't know what the rockets were. They came to look and then realised there was a bad smell of gas."
The late afternoon attack claimed the lives of three local children and injured some 600 people, 35 of them critically.
Doctors in the local hospital say the symptoms that the victims exhibited after the attack, including burns and respiratory problems, were consistent with exposure to chemical agents.
A newborn baby died immediately.
Three-year old Fatima, who was playing right next to the spot where one of the rockets landed, died the following day of organ failure.
Ten-year old Masumeh died 10 days later.
Her funeral was being held as we arrived in the town; her small coffin was held aloft by a crowd of local men.
Many carried placards showing Masumeh lying dead in a pink dress.
The mourners were angry at what they said was a lack of support from the Iraqi army to help drive out the estimated 300 IS fighters now occupying Bashir.
Taza has been under almost daily rocket fire from Bashir since the village was occupied by the militants nearly two years ago.
For the militants Bashir is a useful staging point for reinforcements.
Taza is full of pictures of "martyrs" - men from local Shia defence units who have been killed fighting IS in the past two years.
"Why don't they [the Iraqi army] come and help our forces to retake Bashir? Why aren't their jets coming to bomb IS?" asks one man.
"What have our children done to deserve this?"
In the nearest city, Kirkuk, we find Zeyneb, mother of the second victim, three-year-old Fatima.
Zeyneb was badly affected by the gas as she tried to drag her daughter to safety.
She is now out of hospital but her face is black with chemical burns and she has blisters all over her lips and eyes.
Zeyneb has no idea that Fatima is dead. Her husband, Samir, has told her the toddler has been taken to Turkey for emergency treatment.
"I need to wait until [she] gets better and then I will find a way to tell her," Samir says.
A thin man wearing the uniform of a Shia defence unit, Samir breaks down as he shows me a photograph of his daughter.
Local doctors say there is nothing more they can do for his wife, so he is trying to find a way to get her to Turkey for specialist treatment.
Zeyneb's family are Shia Turkmen and they are actually from Bashir - the village now occupied by IS.
They had to flee for their lives when the militants stormed in.
"Bad luck seems to be following us," Zeyneb says.
Back in Taza, the local police take us out on patrol.
We walk through deserted streets of one-storey houses - almost all damaged by rocket fire.
The chemical smell is overwhelming.
"You can't imagine what it was like right after the attack," says our police escort Vajdat. "It was impossible to stand out here."
Although the use of chemical agents in the attack on Taza has yet to be confirmed by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the global watchdog has issued a statement expressing serious concern about the incident.
The OPCW also said it had recently worked with the Iraqi government to confirm that sulphur mustard was use in attack by IS militants on Peshmerga forces in Iraqi Kurdistan in August 2015.
In Taza, local MP Niyazi Mimaroglu is clearly frustrated at the lack of reaction by the Iraqi government and the international community to the attack.
He points out that it comes just before the anniversary of Saddam Hussein's infamous poison gas attack on the Kurdish town of Halabja in 1988, which killed up to 5,000 people.
"What's happened here is serious," he says. "It's the same as Halabja. It's the same gas, but now they're using it against the Turkmens."
People in Taza have got used to coming under fire from IS, which considers Shia to be apostates subject to punishment by death.
However, the use of chemical weapons has suddenly raised the threat level in this small town to a new and sinister level.
A commander of the Shia defence force in the town, who asked us not to use his name, said tensions between the different forces fighting IS in the area were preventing a co-ordinated assault to drive the militants out.
"There are some disagreements between the Iranian-backed Shia forces and the [Kurdish] Peshmerga over who should lead the operation," he said.
"And [US-led] coalition forces are reluctant to provide any air support while the Shia forces are on the frontline."
While the military squabble, the people of Taza continue their daily struggle to survive, but it is a struggle that has just got a lot more frightening.


Gateshead secured back-to-back wins for the first time since early October with a 2-0 victory at Solihull Moors.

They took the lead in the 22nd minute when a poor clearance fell to Gus Mafuta and he teed up Nyal Bell, who turned before finding the bottom corner for his second goal in two games.
Mafutu almost doubled the advantage in the 70th minute but his 22-yard drive was kept out by a stunning fingertip save from Solihull goalkeeper Daniel Lewis, while Luke Hannant also hit the post for the visitors.
Moors pushed for a late equaliser but Gateshead sealed the win in injury time as Sam Jones snatched a second with a backheel.
Report supplied by the Press Association.
Match ends, Solihull Moors 0, Gateshead 2.
Second Half ends, Solihull Moors 0, Gateshead 2.
Goal!  Solihull Moors 0, Gateshead 2. Sam Jones (Gateshead).
Substitution, Solihull Moors. Simeon Maye replaces Nortei Nortey.
Substitution, Solihull Moors. Akwasi Asante replaces Harry White.
Substitution, Gateshead. Sam Jones replaces Nyal Bell.
Liam Hogan (Gateshead) is shown the yellow card.
Calum Flanagan (Solihull Moors) is shown the yellow card.
Shepherd Murombedzi (Solihull Moors) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution, Solihull Moors. Pearson Mwanyongo replaces Jamey Osborne.
Second Half begins Solihull Moors 0, Gateshead 1.
First Half ends, Solihull Moors 0, Gateshead 1.
Goal!  Solihull Moors 0, Gateshead 1. Nyal Bell (Gateshead).
First Half begins.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.


Lorries could be banned from overtaking on a 34-mile stretch of road in Oxfordshire and Berkshire following a vote by councillors.

Didcot East councillor Patrick Greene put forward the motion to reduce accidents on the A34 between Junction 13 of the M4 and Junction 9 of the M40.
Earlier at an Oxfordshire County Council meeting it received 51 votes in favour and nine abstentions.
A letter will now be sent to the Secretary of State for Transport.
Mr Greene said: "A lot of problems are caused by these HGVs overtaking each other and that frustrates the ordinary driver."
His motion said the council was "concerned and alarmed at the recent number of major traffic accidents".
But Rhys Williams, the Oxfordshire area manager for the Road Haulage Association, said new regulations would cause "mass congestion".
"What you'll end up having is convoys of trucks tailgating... that's going to cause a safety hazard to other road users who can't enter or exit the A34."


The government could be forced to think again over plans to restrict trade union funding of political parties after a defeat in the Lords.

Peers voted by 327 to 234, to give a majority of 93 to a Labour motion forcing the plans to be debated by a cross party select committee.
Labour fears it could lose Â£6m a year under the Trade Union Bill proposals.
Labour's Baroness Smith of Basildon rejected government claims the bill would not hurt her party financially.
She told peers democracy would be damaged if the government pushed through the changes on funding without them being scrutinised by a select committee first.
As it stands, the legislation would require Labour-affiliated union members to "opt in" to paying a levy to the party instead of having it automatically deducted.
Lady Smith said: "Our genuinely held concern is that this aspect of the bill will have a significant impact on the resources of one major political party - my party, the Labour Party.
"And in doing so, it will both disrupt the political balance in the UK and have a damaging effect on the electoral process and our democracy."
Conservative and Lib Dem peers suggested the government should rethink its proposals.
Tory peer Lord Forsyth said: "It will take away funding from the Labour Party at a time when the Labour Party is perhaps not at its strongest... our Parliamentary system does depend upon having a strong and effective opposition."
Labour is also reported to be set to lose out by about Â£1.3m a year when state funding for opposition parties - known as Short money - is cut.
Junior business minister Baroness Neville-Rolfe, responding for the government, said Labour's motion would shift the focus of scrutiny on the Bill to party funding and away from its central purpose of trade union reform.
She added: "This Bill is a package of measures and it's disappointing that the party opposite has chosen to misinterpret our intentions."


J Jayalalitha, one of India's most influential and colourful politicians, has been buried in the presence of tens of thousands of mourners.

The 68-year-old chief minister of the southern state of Tamil Nadu suffered a heart attack on Sunday night and died at 23:30 (18:00 GMT) on Monday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee are among those attending the state funeral.
Her grave is located next to that of her mentor, MG Ramachandran.
Ramachandran, an actor turned politician, was instrumental in introducing her to politics.
The fact that Jayalalitha was buried is unusual, as members of her caste are always cremated.
However, senior members of her party were quoted by Indian media as saying that she transcended caste for her people, and burying her next to her mentor would also give the people a "monument" to remember her by.
A sea of people joined her funeral procession headed to Marina beach in Chennai. Earlier, her body, draped in the Indian flag, was on display at a large public hall.
Extra police have been deployed in the state amid fears of unrest due to the extreme devotion she inspires among her supporters, many of whom refer to her as "Amma" (mother). There were concerns that they could resort to self-harm or violence, but crowds have been orderly and disciplined apart from a few minor scuffles.
From the early hours people streamed into the large public park inside which Jayalalitha's body lay in state, wrapped in the national flag.
They converged into the arena from all directions, as the police struggled to control the flow.
It was so intense that you felt there could be a stampede at any moment, as men and women surged forward in waves, straining to catch a glimpse of their beloved "Amma".
Many were visibly distraught.
"Amma why have you left us," one woman wailed, while another beat her chest.
By the coffin were the VIPs - the prime minister, senior politicians and celebrities.
But those below were the ordinary men and women who formed the bedrock of her support.
"We don't know what will happen to us now," one man muttered, his voice breaking. Another told me he had come from Sri Lanka. "I came to see her because she is my mother," he said simply.
A seven-day period of mourning has been declared in Tamil Nadu. The central government in Delhi has declared Tuesday a national holiday as a mark of respect.
Jayalalitha had been receiving treatment for months and was last seen in public in September.
She is revered by many but was seen by her critics as having created a cult of personality over the years.
Tributes began to pour in for her as soon as her death was confirmed by the Apollo hospital, which had been treating her since 22 September.
"RIP Jayalalitha" has been trending on Twitter, while Facebook is also filled with elegies for a woman who is widely respected for managing to hold her own in the male-dominated world of Tamil Nadu politics.
Khushboo Sundar, film actress and Congress party spokesperson, told the BBC: "It's very painful for me. Despite our political differences, I had respected her. We were hoping against hope, none of us wanted her to lose this battle.
"She was a symbol of strength for women like me. She fought against so many odds to make a name for herself in a male-dominated profession like politics. We have a lost a great politician, and a great champion of women's rights."
A senior politician of Jayalalitha's AIADMK party, O Panneerselvam, was sworn in as chief of Tamil Nadu within hours of her death, the party's Twitter account confirmed.
Jayalalitha lived a dramatic life, both on screen and off.
She appeared in more than 100 films before turning her hand to politics in the early 1980s.
Jayalalitha later won control of the AIADMK from its late founder's wife, before leading it to victory in 1991, the first of four occasions she would do so.
She was accused of corruption on several occasions, and spent two short spells in prison - most recently in 2014.
But a Karnataka high court order in 2015, which cleared her of involvement in a corruption scandal, paved the way for her return to power.
Jayalalitha's admirers remain unbowed in their admiration for her and argue she has played a key role in the development of Tamil Nadu as one of India's most economically influential states.


A register of patients in England with breast and other cosmetic implants has been set up to allow them to be traced in the event of any safety concerns.

The move comes after faulty Poly Implant ProthÃ¨se (PIP) silicone breast implants were recalled in 2010, affecting thousands of women.
The inclusion of individual patients' details will not be mandatory.
However, all providers of breast implant surgery will be expected to participate in the scheme.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "We want the NHS to be the safest healthcare system in the world and anyone who chooses to have a cosmetic procedure has the right to safe care.
"The PIP breast implant scandal in 2010 affected thousands of people which is why we asked NHS Digital to develop a new register which will allow people to be traced swiftly if that is ever needed."
As a result of poor record-keeping following the PIP scandal, many women were unable to find out if they had been given the faulty implants.
In some cases, because surgery providers had gone out of business, women who received the implants could not be traced.
The Breast and Cosmetic Implant Registry - which will be managed by NHS Digital - will include patients treated by both NHS and private providers.
And participation in the registry will be noted during Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections.
The registry will be expanded in the future to also cover other cosmetic implants, such as buttock or calf implants.
It is expected to record more than 20,000 cases of implant surgery every year and allow complications with specific implants to be picked up.
Providers will be expected to submit data on patients via an online portal.
Explicit consent from patients will be required to add their details to the registry - and this is in addition to the usual consent for the surgical procedure.
Noel Gordon, chair of NHS Digital, said the registry marked a major step forward in improving patient safety for people who undergo breast implant surgery each year.
"We look forward to working with patients and providers to ensure that the benefits of this important registry are delivered."
The British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons, the Association of Breast Surgery and the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons welcomed the registry.
In a joint statement, they said: "This will protect patients by providing a way to actively monitor all implants, track and trace their use and provide data for further research, which may be used to further technological advances.
"We hope that all patients will consent to the submission of data on their behalf."


Letting agents' fees for tenants could be banned in Wales under proposals from two backbench Labour AMs.

Both Jenny Rathbone and Mike Hedges are applying separately to take part in a ballot which, if they win, will allow them to propose a bill to ban the fees.
Mr Hedges said the fees were a "tax" on some of society's poorest with students among the biggest hit.
But one letting agent said a ban could hit efforts to professionalise the sector.
The Welsh Government said it was happy to consider how such legislation might work.
The charges have already been banned in Scotland, while the UK government is planning to consult on doing the same in England.
There are currently no firm plans to do the same in Wales, although the Welsh Government has said it was "actively considering" the move. Ministers have faced criticism for not acting sooner.
AMs from all of the assembly's opposition parties have supported a ban.
Assembly members can propose bills - proposals for new laws which when passed by the assembly become acts - from outside the government through a random ballot process.
Mr Hedges said: "They are a tax on some of the poorest people in society who are engaged in private rented accommodation."
The Swansea East AM said it was a big problem in university cities and a "big problem anywhere where there is more demand for housing then there is housing".
Mr Hedges believes that about 20 AMs may apply to take part in the ballot - although only Mr Hedges and Ms Rathbone are currently known to be proposing banning the fees.
Cardiff Council AM Jenny Rathbone said Mr Hedges' attempt "doubles the chances of one of us being picked".
Catherine Iannucci, 21, originally from Barry and studying her third year of history and politics at Cardiff University, lives in a house with six other tenants.
She said they have had to pay Â£80 each to take the home off the market - amounting to a fee of Â£560 for the agency.
Ms Iannucci, who is a part of the group Labour Students and has conducted research on agency fees for Ms Rathbone, said: "It's a significant amount of money.
"We don't really know what they're for and we don't know what that's gone towards."
She also had to pay a deposit of a month's rent, plus Â£50.
"In the middle of term, because we look around February time - nobody has that money to just throw away easily. It does put you under a lot pressure for the rest of the term," she said.
She said she would be in favour of a ban as long as it meant that rents did not go up as a result.
Douglas Haig is the director for Wales and vice-chairman of the Residential Landlords Association - which also owns Cardiff property management company James Douglas Sales and Lettings.
He said his firm does charge fees, adding: "There are fees that go to landlord, there are fees that go to the tenant."
Mr Haig said he did not condone "sharp practices" in the sector but warned that banning fees may make it harder to professionalise the industry.
"If we just outright ban fees, then we're going to have a number of consequences," he said.
"The most important is around the professionalisation of the sector... If you are taking away money from the sector, that's going to be very difficult to continue providing quality.
"I don't think the vast majority of agents out there are actually profiteering.
"There are costs in running these businesses that people are unaware of and as increased state regulation comes in, those costs continue to rise."
A Welsh Government spokesman said: "We are happy to consider how legislation on this might work.
"We want to look at the evidence from Scotland and see wider consultation to ensure that a ban on fees does not push rental costs up."
The next scheduled ballot for backbench bills is on 25 January.


There are loads of exciting new films hitting our cinema screens in 2017, from pirates and fairytales, to teenage superheroes and the latest Lego extravaganza.

4 January 2017 Last updated at 06:54 GMT
Newsround's Ricky has been chatting to top entertainment reporter Colin Patterson to get the lowdown on some of the best films to look out for this year.


Jim Murphy has promised to fight on as Scottish Labour leader after his party was routed by the SNP amid a historic landslide general election victory,

Labour lost 40 seats to the SNP, which took 56 of Scotland's 59 seats and has just one Scottish MP - the same as the Lib Dems and Conservatives.
Mr Murphy, who lost Renfrewshire East to the SNP,  said Labour had been "overwhelmed" on a "dreadful night".
But he said he would stay on as leader and stand for Holyrood in 2016.
Speaking at a news conference in Glasgow, Mr Murphy said Labour had "faced a perfect storm" following last year's Scottish independence referendum.
"Firstly the 'Yes' vote finding a home in one party while the 'No' vote was spread over three," he said.
"We were hit by two nationalisms - English nationalism, stoked up by David Cameron, and the Scottish nationalism of the SNP."
Mr Murphy also said Scottish Labour had lacked "continuity of leadership" with "five leaders in just seven short years".
He said that he and deputy Kezia Dugdale had not had the time to reform the party and were "determined to have a period of stability".
He said: "We will bounce back, and be the change that working people need".
Mr Murphy was the biggest casualty of the night for Labour in Scotland.
His once safe majority in Renfrewshire East - a seat he had held for nearly 20 years - was eliminated by the SNP's Kirsten Oswald who swept to victory with 23,564 votes to Labour's 19,295.


The NFL will introduce a rule to require teams to interview female candidates for "executive positions".

It follows the Rooney Rule, established in 2003, which requires NFL teams to interview at least one minority candidate for head coaching or senior football operation jobs.
Jen Welter was a member of the Arizona Cardinals coaching staff in pre-season, while Kathryn Smith recently became the first full-time female coach with an NFL team when she was hired by the Buffalo Bills.
At boardroom level, Katie Blackburn is the long-serving executive vice-president of the Cincinnati Bengals, while Amy Trask was the Oakland Raiders' chief executive officer from 1997 until 2013.
There is also a female game official - Sarah Thomas - in the NFL.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, speaking at the league's Women's Summit in the build-up to Super Bowl 50, said: "We believe in diversity. We believe that we're better as an organisation when we have good people at the table."


A man with a terminal brain tumour has said he believes cannabis oil has helped prolong his life and even though it is illegal, he will keep using it.

Kieran McCrory's medical prognosis of having three to five years to live remains, but he said doctors have told him his tumour has stopped growing.
It is illegal in the UK to use cannabis for medicinal purposes.
The government calls it "harmful", while Cancer Research UK said there is no evidence it can safely treat cancer.
Mr McCrory, a 38-year-old from Omagh, County Tyrone, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2014.
The father-of-one underwent brain surgery and radiation treatment, but last year he started using cannabis oil.
He has not had any further radiation treatment since then.
"I can be optimistic about spending a good length of time on this planet with my wife and child," he said.
"It is good to see a bit of light. Basically, the tumour has stopped in its tracks. So it's not spread and it's not got any bigger."
Cannabis has been outlawed as a class B drug in the UK, but a derivative is used in a spray for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients.
It is legal to use cannabis oil in a limited number of countries.
In the United States, 23 out of the country's 50 states currently permit medical cannabis, with legislation pending in other states.
There is a new campaign calling for medical cannabis to be legalised in the UK.
Supporters from End Our Pain have claimed the move would help more than an estimated 1m people who regularly use cannabis for medical reasons.
The Home Office said the government has no plans to legalise cannabis or change its approach to its use as medicine.
The Minister for Preventing Abuse and Exploitation, Karen Bradley, said: "There is clear scientific and medical evidence that cannabis is a harmful drug which can damage people's mental and physical health, and harms individuals and communities."
A spokesperson for Cancer Research UK said: "We know that cannabinoids - the active chemicals found in cannabis - can have a range of different effects on cancer cells grown in the lab and animal tumours.
"But at the moment there isn't good evidence from clinical trials to prove that they can safely and effectively treat cancer in patients.
"Cancer Research UK is supporting clinical trials for treating cancer with cannabinoid-based drugs in order to gather solid data on whether they benefit people with cancer."
Mr McCrory said he is fully aware of the legal consequences, but he will continue using cannabis oil.
"I am not hurting anyone. I am not out there selling drugs and I don't run a drugs factory," he said.
"You can't afford to put up restrictions when you are fighting for your life. What would anybody else do if you were in my shoes?
"I will be taking this oil for the rest of my life. I want to get to the age of 80. I just want to live."


A Stormont minister believed two care homes run by nuns in Londonderry saved the state money, Northern Ireland's Historical Abuse Inquiry has heard.

The inquiry has been examining 1960s letters between state bodies and the Sisters of Nazareth, who ran the homes at Bishop Street and Termonbacca.
It was shown a 1964 memo by Home Affairs Minister Bill Craig.
He said children would otherwise "have to be accommodated at much greater expense by welfare authorities".
St Joseph's Home, Termonbacca, and Nazareth House children's home in Bishop Street in Derry are the first two of 13 state, church and voluntary institutions being examined by the inquiry during the period from 1922 to 1995.
As the first phase of the hearings nears the end, the inquiry was presented with correspondence about a grant application for building improvements at Termonbacca.
It shows that the government was seeking details of the nuns' finances before approving the application.
In a memo to the Stormont cabinet, Mr Craig said "a much greater reliance is placed on voluntary homes in Northern Ireland".
He also told colleagues that "the present standards of accommodation at this home fall considerably below what my department would regard as desirable in a home for deprived children".
He added: "In the special circumstances of Northern Ireland, it could safely be assumed that quite a large number of the children voluntarily accommodated in homes like Termonbacca would, if these homes were not available, have to be accommodated at much greater expense by welfare authorities."
Later, the inquiry was told that a policy on peer sexual abuse was first given to residential homes in the north west in the late 1980s.
In a closing submission, dealing with former Sister of Nazareth homes at Termonbacca and Bishop Street, counsel for the Health and Social Care Board said the former Western Board "identified and signposted" peer sex abuse as an issue in the 1980s and distributed guidelines in 1988.
The inquiry was also told on Wednesday that the Health and Social Care Board believes that state authorities were limited in what they could do in certain areas of childcare in the 1950s, 60s and 70s.
Counsel for the board said any attempt during that period to admit children from voluntary homes, into the care of the state, would have been regarded as "significant state interference" in the private lives of families and the arrangements they made for their children.
The inquiry began public hearings at the beginning of this year.


Hundreds of people have attended a vigil to remember two teenage athletes who died when they were struck by a car.

Lucy Pygott, 17, from Hartley Wintney, and 16-year-old Stacey Burrows from Farnborough were out on a training run when they were hit by a Ford Focus.
A torch-lit procession, held exactly a week after the crash on Queen's Avenue, was followed by a two-minute silence.
Both girls were members of Aldershot, Farnham and District Athletic Club.
Lucy was this year's England Under-20 3,000m champion and European Youth Championships bronze medallist.
Stacey was the Hampshire Under-17 3,000m champion.
The club, which is based at the Aldershot Military Stadium, said the large number of flowers left at the crash scene have been moved to the stadium's car park as they were causing vehicles to stop on the road.
A serving soldier was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of careless driving while unfit through drink or drugs.
He has been bailed until February.


New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's former ally who admitted closing a bridge to punish a political opponent has been spared a prison sentence.

Former transport official David Wildstein, 55, received three years of probation and 500 hours' community service for the Bridgegate scandal.
The judge praised him for co-operating with authorities to jail two Christie associates who were implicated.
All three officials claimed Mr Christie was aware, but he was not charged.
The scandal nevertheless contributed to derailing the governor's presidential ambitions.
Mr Wildstein, who pleaded guilty in May last year, was also banned from working in government at Wednesday's hearing.
His testimony helped convict former Christie deputy chief of staff Bridget Kelly and former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey executive Bill Baroni.
"All three of us put our faith in a man who neither earned it nor deserved it," Wildstein said in court of himself, Ms Kelly and Mr Baroni.
"I willingly drank the Kool-Aid of a man I'd known since I was 15 years old."
They shut access lanes at the busy George Washington Bridge in 2013 to create traffic gridlock as retaliation against a local Democratic mayor who refused to endorse Mr Christie's reelection bid.
In September 2016, Wildstein told a court that the governor laughed when told about the traffic chaos during a 9/11 memorial service two days after the lane closures went into effect.


A decision by the Church of Scotland on the position of ministers who wish to enter same-sex marriages has been delayed to allow wider consultation.

The issue was being debated at the Kirk's General Assembly.
It follows a vote earlier this week to allow congregations to appoint gay ministers in civil partnerships.
The Church's presbyteries, or local areas, will now be asked to vote on extending this to ministers in same-sex marriages, before it can be approved.
Commenting on the Assembly's decision, Very Reverend David Arnott, co-ordinator of the principal clerk's office, said: "The General Assembly understood this to be a logical extension of the benefits which accrue to those in civil partnership.
"Very Rev Prof Iain Torrance assured the assembly the Theological Forum will bring a report on same sex marriage to a future Assembly, which we will look forward to.
"Out of a pastoral concern for the whole church, the General Assembly decided to pass this overture to the presbyteries who will report to the assembly in May 2016."
If a majority of Presbyteries give their approval, the matter will return to the General Assembly next year, where a final decision will be taken.
Following Saturday's vote on civil partnerships, supporters of the move said it was time for the church to be inclusive and recognise the "mixed economy" of modern Scotland.
However, opponents warned that the move was contrary to God's law, would prove divisive and lead to resignations.
The issue of gay ministers has divided the church for some time.
In 2009 some members attempted to block the appointment of the Reverend Scott Rennie, who is gay, to Queen's Cross Church in Aberdeen.
At the Kirk's gathering in 2011, commissioners voted to accept gay and lesbian clergy - on the condition they had declared their sexuality and were ordained before 2009.
Last year, the general assembly voted to allow presbyteries to debate whether congregations could opt out of its traditional stance and appoint gay ministers.


Petra Kvitova may be one of the lowest-key double-Grand Slam winners in the recent history of tennis.

The talented Czech left-hander has won two of the past four Wimbledon titles and is a familiar and popular player with fans of the game.
But the current holder of the Venus Rosewater Dish does not yet have the instant public recognition enjoyed by players such as Maria Sharapova or Serena Williams, and was famously uncomfortable with the media attention after her 2011 Wimbledon win.
However, last year's repeat success has made her more prepared for being in the media spotlight, and that is something her new team of business advisors is seeking to  capitalise on.
Although top players can earn millions through prize money, the majority of their earnings - in what can be a short career - comes through business deals and endorsements.
"We believe she has great potential to become a successful global brand and commercial property," says her agent Marijn Bal of IMG, with whom she has signed a worldwide marketing and representation deal.
"We have got to look at the personality, she is totally different from a Maria Sharapova or a Genie Bouchard.
"Those girls are a little bit more outgoing, Petra is more humble, she is like the girl next door, approachable. I am not saying the others are not like that, but they are all different personalities."
And Kvitova herself tells the BBC business website that it would be unwise to try to package her as something she is not.
"I think for me it has been important to remain 'Petra from Fulnek'," says the Wimbledon number two seed.  "I am a simple girl from a simple background and I think fans have appreciated my authenticity, What you see is definitely what you get with me.
"I don't pretend to be any different just because I win tennis matches, so hopefully brands appreciate my approach and my likeability, because it's who I am."
Bal says they hope to repeat the sort of success they had with Novak Djokovic, another player from a not-particularly-large geographical or commercial territory in Eastern Europe, in his case Serbia, and who they were able to transform into a global brand.
According to Forbes, Djokovic made some $48m (Â£30.5m) from tennis in 2014, with just over one third of that coming from competition prize money and the rest from commercial ventures.
But Bal adds:  "There is no formula, there are different strategies for different players. When we start working with a player we don't look at how we did things with a player before. We look at their interests and personality. And we need to have the right brands that fit their personality. "
He also says that there is no strict timetable to securing deals, but that products Kvitova is associated with have to be of high quality.
"An athlete's brand is not created for 12 months, but over their lifetimes.  We are starting that process having signed her late last year," he continues.
Born in Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic) on 8 March 1990
With the Williams sisters, is only current female player to have won Wimbledon more than once
The only female player born in the 1990s to have won a Grand Slam title
Major deals with Wilson, Nike, Unicredit Bank, and Czech Post
$18.5m (Â£11.7m) career prize money to date
Writes a monthly blog for the BBC Sport website
Is an enthusiastic global ambassador for sports charity Right to Play
The WTA world number two's commercial market has traditionally been on her home ground in the Czech Republic, but IMG now intend "to expand her brand globally".
One of the first tasks is to build up her continued presence in Western markets, and Bal believes her success at SW19 can help trigger British interest.
"The UK is an important market for us.  Having won Wimbledon twice is important," he says.
Bal says there is another - perhaps seemingly unusual -  part of the world which could prove commercially fruitful, namely China and East Asia.
"Her relationship and friendship with [former Chinese player] Li Na is well documented," he says.  "At Li's farewell event last October, she made it known she considered Petra 'a sister off the court'.
"It kick-started a bit of a personality spike for Petra in China and Asia."
That was helped by the 25-year-old winning the Wuhan Open in Li's home city at around the same time, and then by her appearance at the end-of-year WTA finals in Singapore.
"So it was a bringing together of a lot of things," says Bal. "We do believe this is going to be an area of the world where there are going to be opportunities, and she is going to be able to capitalise on her personality."
They have are also promoting her brand through a deal with watchmaker Ritmo Mundo, with the US luxury firm signing her up in April.
"They are a California based company, they are young and they are growing fast," says Bal, who added that the player's "laid back" personality was well-suited to the California lifestyle.
He also says his client is interested in expanding into jewellery and beauty products, and she recently worked in London with global brands Atelier Swarovski and Maybelline at pre-Wimbledon events.
Meanwhile, Kvitova says she is better prepared this time round for the sporting and commercial aspects of being the defending Wimbledon champion.
"I am hoping that I will cope better with being defending champion this year because I have done it once before, I know what to expect and the emotions that are involved. I will really try to enjoy it this year and just absorb the atmosphere and try to give my best."
She adds: "The most important thing is definitely success on the tennis court. I know that if I win matches everything else will fall into place and the money and sponsors will follow."


People have been using Your Questions to ask us what they want to know about the West Midlands.

You wanted to know how to track down a family in Stoke-on-Trent?
We were also asked what good or charitable things were happening in Shropshire?
And you were curious about how faggots became a Black Country delicacy? Here is a look at how we got on answering your questions.
Outside of the phone directory for current names, the other way would be via the local archive services.
In Stoke-on-Trent they suggest using online services such as The Staffordshire Collection on Findmypast which contains parish registers, marriage bonds and more.
The Staffordshire archive service also suggest, apart from their online services, planning a visit to the record office to track down more details.
We went to the Charity Commission, to ask how many charities it has registered in the county and found they have 1,655 registered in the Shropshire local authority area and another 368 in the Telford area.
That list contains a number of charities which aren't based in Shropshire, but still operate in the county and some are more active than others - but there are a wide range of causes listed there.
Faggots were developed as a way of using up all the bits of pig that would otherwise be discarded and have been on sale in the Black Country for more than a century.
The meat balls made of minced offal are traditionally served with mashed potato, peas and gravy. Here is a BBC Good Food recipe you can try.
Eve Billingham founded The Cook Shop in Old Hill, near Halesowen in 1889.
She started out by used the front room of her home in Old Hill High Street, now Highgate Street, as a shop selling Black Country food, such as faggots she cooked herself.
Her recipe for Black Country favourites including faggots have been handed down for generations up until recently, the shop was still being run by her great-grandson.
Have you got a question about the West Midlands?
Is there something you have seen or heard that you would like us to investigate?
It could be a burning issue or something you have always wondered about the area or its people.
Use the tool below to send us your questions.
We could be in touch and your question could make the news.


A Chinese sex education textbook describing girls who have premarital sex as "cheap" has sparked a backlash on micro-blogging site Weibo.

Premarital sex had a "tremendous negative psychological and physical impact on girls", said the High School Sex Education book.
First published in 2004, it came to light recently after a teacher posted passages of the textbook on Weibo.
Chinese netizens quickly caught on to it, accusing it of double standards.
The textbook, by 21st Century Publishing Group, also added that "girls do not increase the love they receive from boys by sacrificing their bodies, but rather are seen as 'degraded' by their 'conquerors'.
"As a result, sexual relations can cause women to lose love."
Speaking to state media outlet the Global Times, the publishing group said the wording was not insulting and pointed out that words like "degraded" were printed with quote marks.
But Weibo users have reacted angrily.
"It takes two hands to clap," said a female user on Weibo, objecting to the singling out of girls.
"This makes me sick. As a man I can't stand this," said another user. "Since you want women not to have premarital sex, then please tell all boys to do the same."
Another said that the solution to the problem would be to "lock your women up, then they wouldn't be called cheap".
The publishing house should "name itself the 18th Century Publishing Group," said another user.
Zhong Guanquan, a teacher in Shenzhen who first posted the passage, told news outlet the Sixth Tone that she was "so angry" when she read the textbook.
"The concepts are backward and all the negative comments are directed toward girls."
The Education Department of Jiangxi told the Sixth Tone website that the books would be revised.
Two thousand copies of the book have been issued to high school seniors in Jiangxi since 2004, reported the Global Times.
Local co-publisher Jiangxi Higher Education Press said that they stopped issuing the book in 2006.


Payment-by-result schemes supervising people released from prison have seen a slight drop in reoffending, initial Ministry of Justice figures show.

Prisoners released from Peterborough and Doncaster Prisons are being helped by charities and support organisations to re-settle.
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said the interim figures were "encouraging".
But the shadow prisons minister said the government should not rush into rolling the schemes out nationally.
Both pilots are measuring reconviction rates in the 12 months following release from prison. The final results will not be available until 2014 but figures on how many people have been reconvicted in the six months after being released have been published part-way through the two pilot schemes.
Between September 2008 and March 2010 Peterborough had a reconviction rate of 41.6%, which was considerably higher than the national average of 37.3%, according to the MoJ figures.
Since the new scheme began at the prison in September 2010 the reconviction rate has fallen to 39.2% in the period up to March 2012.
Mr Grayling said the Peterborough pilot "is the sort of approach I want to see rolled out to all offenders leaving prison".
By Dominic CascianiHome affairs correspondent
Any drop is reoffending is obviously good news for the community affected, the reformed criminal, and the public purse.
But despite the fact that these figures are positive, the data does not yet tell us whether the Peterborough pilot will hit its target.
The key test is what will happen to former prisoners over a year - and that means that positive signs in the first six months could evaporate if someone later slides back into crime.
Anyone who has worked with offenders will tell you stories of offenders leaving jail desperate to go straight - and they perhaps succeed for a while.
But then a few months later things go wrong and, before you know it, they're up before the magistrates again.
Breaking that cycle is extremely tough work - that is the challenge the Peterborough pilot must meet.
At Doncaster Prison while the overall trend for reoffending is down over time, results show its pilot has proved to be less successful since it was launched in October 2011.
The re-conviction rate up to March 2012 was 41.1% - lower than the 41.6% rate between October 2009 and March 2010 and the rate of 46% in the period October 2008 to March 2009.
But this was higher than the 39.8% recorded in the period October 2010 to March 2011.
Mr Grayling has promised a "rehabilitation revolution" to stop former prisoners committing crimes, which the National Audit Office estimates costs up to Â£13bn per year.
He said: "It is madness that we release prisoners serving short sentences without any support in the community.
"These figures show a sizeable fall in reconvictions. They clearly demonstrate that with targeted support and help aimed at the right people at the right time we can divert more offenders from a return to crime."
Shadow prisons minister Jenny Chapman cautioned against taking too much from the early results.
"It is mildly encouraging, some of the numbers show I think that the pilots are still at an early stage and that providers are still experimenting with what works best.
"I think we need to allow the pilots to run their course."
"We need to be very very cautious about rolling stuff out around the country before we have had a chance to make the right learning."
The Peterborough pilot provided offenders with help as they prepared for release from jail and then access to services they needed out of prison, including housing, employment and financial services.
Ministers are planning to roll this out to all prisoners serving prison terms of less than 12 months under the Offender Rehabilitation Bill currently going through parliament.
Andrew Neilson, from the Howard League for Penal Reform, said the pilots were being run differently from how the national payment-by-results scheme will work, with the Peterborough project in part secured through philanthropic investment.
"The Peterborough project also works with short sentenced prisoners who engage voluntarily with services on release. That voluntary aspect is considered crucial to the project's success in areas such as mentoring," he said.
"By contrast, the government is proposing to privatise probation to reduce costs and short sentenced prisoners will be compelled to receive support on release.
"Talk of payment for results may yet be a smokescreen for cheap and poor quality services that set people up to fail."


A controversial new Snapchat face filter has drawn outrage from thousands of users describing it as a "racist" caricature of East Asians.

Dubbed "yellowface" by angry users, it contorted facial features and gave users the appearance of slanted eyes.
Snapchat said the filter had already been removed and would not return to circulation.
The social media app, one of the most popular in the world, has come under fire before over its lenses.
Critics often accuse it of favouring white complexions with filters that lighten users' skin tones.
Its "Bob Marley" filter, which added animated dreadlocks and a cap, was also criticised for promoting "blackface".
"This anime-inspired lens has already expired and won't be put back into circulation," Snapchat said in an official statement on Wednesday.
"Lenses are meant to be playful and never to offend."
But many Snapchat users were still not satisfied and took to social media to call the company out for "promoting racist Asian stereotypes".
"Stop it, Snapchat, this is not okay. This Yellow Face filter is not cool," tweeted actress and celebrity blogger Latrice Butts, who shared a snap of the filter.
Other users like Tansu Philip, reported that they had deleted the app over the filter. "Racist filters are not cute," she said.
The lens even drew users to make comparisons with US Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump.
"Racist taste in black and yellow filters. Snapchat must be Donald Trump supporters," wrote Californian Mike Udem on Twitter.
"Yellowface is never playful," said Reid Robinson in New York City. "Love you Snapchat but you're acting like Trump - clearly racist and with the maturity of a third grader."
Reporting by the BBC's Heather Chen.


Italy striker Antonio Cassano has been fined by Uefa after comments made about homosexuals during Euro 2012.

The 29-year-old AC Milan forward said he hoped there were no homosexuals in the Italy squad for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine.
I did not want to offend anyone and I can not question the sexual freedom of other people
Although he later apologised for the comments, he has still been fined £11,679 (15,000 euros).
"Cassano has been fined for a discriminatory press statement," Uefa confirmed on its website.
"An appeal can be lodged against this decision within three days of the dispatch of the full written decision."
Cassano was asked during a news conference whether he thought there were any homosexuals in Cesare Prandelli's 23-man squad.
He responded: "The coach warned me that you would ask me this question. If I say what I think... I hope there are none."
But he subsequently released a statement insisting he had been misinterpreted.
"I sincerely regret that my statements have sparked controversy and protest from gay rights groups," Cassano said.
"Homophobia is a sentiment that is not mine. I did not want to offend anyone and I can not question the sexual freedom of other people.
"I only said that it is a problem that does not concern me and it is not for me to pass judgement on the choices of others, who are all respected."
The 30-year-old scored one goal in six games during Euro 2012, helping Italy to the final, where they lost to Spain.


Stirling Council has been fined £10,500 for ignoring warnings for nine years about asbestos in the basement of its Old Viewforth headquarters.

The authority sent office staff to sweep, dust and move furniture about in a boiler room where pipes were lagged with the potentially deadly material.
A court heard consultants had warned the council three times about the danger.
The council said it is offering support to all "potentially affected" staff.
Stirling Sheriff Court was told the workers were not provided with protective clothing or masks, and there was a risk they could develop asbestos-related illnesses in later life.
Prosecutor Selena Brown said the boiler room was inspected in 2003 by experts from the Institute of Occupational Medicine, who warned asbestos was present in several areas of the 1935 building.
They recommended the asbestos should be removed as soon as possible and the affected areas cleaned and decontaminated.
However, no action was taken, and no warnings were issued to employees.
Further surveys in 2010 and 2011 found the asbestos was still in place, with one identifying lagging on a pipe as "high priority risk", with an associated high potential from flying fibres.
Mrs Brown said three council employees were sent unprotected into the boiler room in February 2012 to give it a "deep clean".
She said they were given no warnings about the presence of asbestos and how to minimise the danger from any asbestos, and no masks or proper protective clothing.
Another expert survey in 2012 warned about asbestos in the boiler room, at which point the council's health and safety department realised that employees might have been exposed.
The council restricted access to the boiler room and reported itself to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which launched an investigation.
Risk assessors concluded there was "quite limited" danger to people who had just walked through the boiler room.
However, they said that "dry brushing" could have caused asbestos fibre levels in the area to peak at levels in excess of workplace limits.
Mrs Brown said none of the employees had yet displayed ill-effects, and the asbestos had been removed by a licensed contractor.
Stirling Council admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act between 13 February 2003 and 31 May 2012.
The council's solicitor, Lesley Allan, said the authority could not explain what had gone wrong.
She said: "It's difficult to determine why the information in the (2003) Institute of Occupational Medicine report came not to be fully acted on when it should have been."
Sheriff Christopher Shead said the presence of asbestos in the building should have raised concerns that ought to have been obvious to anyone.
Stirling Council said the health and wellbeing of employees was its "top priority" and it had carried out training in asbestos awareness.
A council spokeswoman said: "Following the discovery of potential asbestos exposure and the service of Improvement Notices in 2012, the council responded quickly and professionally, cooperating fully with the HSE investigation and putting in place measures to mitigate the risk to employees.
"The council has offered support to all staff potentially affected by this matter."


Medical workers among refugees given shelter in Scotland could be offered vacant health care jobs, the leader of Highland Council has suggested.

The local authority is to meet the charity Blythswood to look at what help could be offered to people fleeing conflict in Syria.
Council leader Margaret Davidson said that, at the same time, professionals could be sought among the refugees.
The Highlands has been struggling to recruit GPs and consultants.
Caithness General Hospital in Wick needs eight consultants, an annual review of NHS Highland's performance heard on Monday.
NHS Highland has also been running adverts in Holland to find doctors to fill vacancies at GP practices.
Ms Davidson told BBC Alba: "There are professionals on those trains trying to get to Germany from Hungary, and professionals stuck in refugee camps around the world.
"There are all sorts of barriers to bringing in some of these professionals.
"There is no reason why we cannot be doing what we can to help the refugees out there and also, at the same time, matching them to some of our skills vacancies."
The UK will accept up to 20,000 refugees from Syria over the next five years, David Cameron  told MPs on Monday.
The prime minister said the UK had a "moral responsibility" to those living in camps bordering Syria while doing all it can to end the conflict there.
Vulnerable children and orphans would be prioritised in what would be a "national effort", Mr Cameron said.
Last week, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Scotland "stands ready to offer sanctuary" to refugees.
Ms Sturgeon said Scotland should accept 1,000 refugees "as a starting point for a meaningful discussion".
She was speaking at a summit aimed at examining what Scotland can do to help ease the international refugee crisis.


The health of a five-year-old boy taken from hospital by his parents against medical advice will deteriorate rapidly as the battery on his feeding system is likely to have run out, police said.

Ashya King, who has a brain tumour, was taken from Southampton General Hospital and was last seen on a ferry to France.
He was allowed to leave the ward under the supervision of his parents.
It has also been confirmed the family are Jehovah's Witnesses, but there is no suggestion this is why he was taken.
Brett King, 51, and Naghemeh King, 45, removed him from the ward on Thursday.
Assistant Chief Constable of Hampshire Chris Shead, said Ashya was fed through a battery operated tube and the battery was likely to have expired.
While information had placed the family in France, he said: "By now, we cannot be certain they have not moved on".
A spokesman for the hospital, which contacted police six hours after they left, said: "Ashya was a long-term patient who was permitted to leave the ward under the supervision of his parents as part of his ongoing rehabilitation.
"When the length of time he had been absent became a cause of concern to staff yesterday afternoon they contacted police after a search of the site and attempts to contact the family were unsuccessful."
Interpol has issued a missing persons alert to all 190 of its member countries.  It was "treating all incoming information relating to the case as high priority", it said.
Earlier, Mr Shead said "time was running out" for Ashya.
"It is vital that we find Ashya today, his health will deteriorate," he said.
"If he doesn't receive urgent medical care, or the wrong treatment is given, his condition will become life-threatening.
"If Naghemeh or Brett or any of their children see or hear this appeal please take Ashya to the nearest hospital."
Mr Shead said they were told by the hospital the youngster was missing at 20:35 BST on Thursday - more than six hours after he had been taken by his parents.
On why the hospital did not alert police sooner, he said: "That is something that we need to look at."
Officers were keeping an "open mind" on the motives behind Ashya being taken, Mr Shead said.
The Office of Public Information for Jehovah's Witnesses said in a statement: "There is absolutely no indication, as far as we are aware, that their decision is in any way motivated by any religious convictions."
"Jehovah's Witnesses are encouraged to seek the best medical treatment for themselves and their children," it added.
It is believed Ashya's parents and six siblings boarded a cross-Channel ferry from Portsmouth to Cherbourg at 16:00 BST and arrived at 20:00.
Police said Ashya, who recently had surgery, cannot communicate verbally and is immobile. He is likely to be in a wheelchair or buggy.
According to Ian Pople, a consultant neurosurgeon, the battery in the feeding machine used by Ashya can't be changed easily.
It is integrated within the machine, much like an iPhone, and it means the machine has to be taken apart to replace the battery.
It's also not designed to be run on batteries for a long period and is usually plugged into mains.
In other words, it's only battery-reliant for short periods, such as going to the toilet, or moving between wards.
Cherbourg Police has confirmed it is searching locally for Ashya, checking hotels and CCTV.
But vice-prosecutor Cyril Fournier said: "They may have stayed in Cherbourg, but they may be 500km from here, it's like looking for a needle in a haystack."
An image of Ashya being wheeled out of the hospital by his father has been released by police.
The force said it was working with police in France to activate emergency child rescue alert procedures.
The family, from Southsea, Hampshire, were travelling in a grey coloured Hyundai I800 Style CRDI, registration KP60 HWK.
Det Supt Dick Pearson, of Hampshire Constabulary, said: "If we do not locate Ashya today there are serious concerns for his life.
"He is receiving constant medical care within the UK due to recent surgery and ongoing medical issues. Without this specialist 24 hour care, Ashya is at risk of additional health complications which place him at substantial risk.
"He needs to be taken to a medical facility for his urgent health requirements as soon as he is located."
Parents have the right to remove their children from hospital unless they are prevented from doing so by a court order - it has not been confirmed whether Ashya was subject to an order.
If doctors are concerned that parents intend to remove a child, deny it the medical treatment it needs, and expose it to the risk of serious harm, they can seek a court order.
This will normally involve CAFCASS (the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service), the non-departmental public body which provides guardians to represent the best interests of children in family court proceedings.
Once an order is in place, any parent who removes their child in breach of the order is committing a contempt of court for which they could be imprisoned.
Police have launched a social media appeal and are urging people to share it, particularly with friends or relatives in France and bordering countries.
Ashya's paternal grandmother, Patricia King, said his parents were "wonderful" and had been left beside themselves at their child's plight.
Speaking from her home in Southsea, she said of her son: "He's the most caring and wonderful father you could ever have. The kids love him."
She praised her daughter-in-law, saying she had kept a bedside vigil while Ashya was in hospital.
She said she did not know whether Ashya's illness was terminal, saying: "I knew he was seriously ill, we all knew that."
Ashya's brother Naveed King posted a YouTube video on 23 July speaking about the five-year-old's illness.
He said: "I haven't slept anything really, I've been awake all night worrying.
"Everyone is sending their love now. We love you so much and we want to see you very soon and I love you so much and can't wait to see you.
"No kid at the age of five deserves to have a brain tumour."


Lawyers representing former soldiers facing prosecution for killings during the Northern Ireland Troubles have called for an independent inquiry.

A London-based firm of solicitors says there are concerns about the decisions to take legal action.
Former soldiers feel they are being unfairly treated, says the firm, Devonshires.
A number of Conservative MPs have called for new legislation to prevent further prosecutions.
The police and Public Prosecution Service (PPS) say cases involving allegations against former soldiers are treated in the same way as all others.
Members of regular regiments of the British Army killed 302 people during the Troubles, more than half of them were civilians.
The first 169 killings were investigated by the Royal Military Police.
The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) then took over responsibility, but did not re-examine those cases.
Critics have questioned the integrity of the investigations into all of the Army killings.
Indeed, an official British government document uncovered by campaign group Relatives for Justice five years ago indicated that an agreement was made to protect soldiers serving in Northern Ireland from prosecution.
Dated 10 July 1972, it said: "The British government should not be inhibited in its campaign by the threat of court proceedings and should therefore be suitably indemnified."
The Legacy Branch of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is re-investigating the Army killings, as part of a review of all deaths during the Troubles.
In 2010, the Saville inquiry found that the Bloody Sunday killings of 13 civilians were unjustified and unjustifiable.
Devonshires says it is currently representing between 10 and 15 former soldiers facing prosecution for a number of killings, including those on Bloody Sunday.
Lawyer Philip Barden said his clients and other former soldiers had serious concerns.
"They do feel that the process is unfair," he said.
"These are soldiers whose shootings were investigated at the time they took place and the then director of public prosecutions took a decision, based upon the evidence that was then available, that no action would be taken against them.
"They've got on with their lives, their memories have faded, and now after, in some cases more than 40 years, they face the prospect of being prosecuted, and they feel that it is very prejudicial for them and they are very concerned by it."
He said the firm had been told there could be as many as 1,000 former soldiers potentially facing prosecution.
The PPS in Northern Ireland said it had no idea where that figure came from.
Devonshires is calling for an independent review of the process to address the concerns of former soldiers.
"Justice must be seen to be done, and I think in these circumstances it would help everybody if someone such as a senior judge were to be instructed by the government to review the processes and procedures that have been put in place," Mr Barden said.
Kate Nash, whose brother, William, was killed on Bloody Sunday, said she was absolutely enraged by Mr Barden's comments.
"The victims of the state in this country have never been on a level playing field when dealing with British justice," she said.
"An inquiry had already found soldiers guilty on Bloody Sunday of firing at victims without fear or panic and perjuring themselves. These soldiers at the Bloody Sunday inquiry had the protection of immunity from prosecution and still didn't tell the truth. It's a disgrace."
However, DUP MP Sir Jeffery Donaldson said: "I think Kate is right, there isn't a level playing field and I think more money was spent on the Saville inquiry [into Bloody Sunday] than on the investigation of any other killing in the history of Northern Ireland.
"Kate seems to think that the only people who are entitled to access to justice are victims of the state. The IRA were responsible for 60% of the killings in Northern Ireland, the paramilitary terrorists were responsible for over 90% of the killings.
"The problem is that no-one is investigating the unsolved killings committed by the IRA."
The PPS says all of its decisions are reached after careful consideration of the case according to the Code of Prosecutors.
In a statement issued last month, it said: "The Public Prosecution Service only applies the law as it currently stands in Northern Ireland and does so without fear, favour or prejudice."
In response to critics who say army killings were not properly investigated at the time they happened, the lawyer said if that was the case it was not the fault of the former soldiers involved.
"If the state failed to properly investigate matters in the 1970s that should be taken up with the state," he said.
"That's not the responsibility of the individual soldiers who were subject to an investigation, who were told that no action would be taken against them, and have relied upon that."


Wales coach Warren Gatland said England made a mistake by not going for a late penalty kick that could have drawn their Group A match at Twickenham.

Instead with three minutes left England captain Chris Robshaw opted for a five-metre line-out that Wales repelled to help seal a famous 28-25 win.
Wales now have one foot in the quarter-finals, while England will have to beat Australia to keep their hopes alive.
"I thought they would have gone for goal and taken the draw," Gatland said.
"It's a big call to make and a brave call to make.
"They'd caught us out in the past... throwing to the front of the line-out and we expected that, and did a good job in stopping that driven maul and pushed them into touch.
"Those are decisions you make sometimes and you go there and you get a driven line-out and you win the game and you're a hero, you make the wrong call and you're zero.
"There were two good sides out there. I have a lot of respect for England - their players and their management - and that game could have gone either way."
Dan Biggar kicked all seven of his penalties in an all-round performance that saw the Osprey named man of the match, and Gatland admitted the fly-half "kept us in the game".
Biggar held his nerve to clinch victory with a kick from almost on the halfway line, which comfortably cleared the crossbar despite the distance.
However, the victory came at a cost to Wales, with centre Scott Williams and full-back Liam Williams both taken off on a stretcher, while wing Hallam Amos was also forced off.
Wales were already without Leigh Halfpenny, Rhys Webb and Cory Allen because of injury.
"We lost another couple of players. Hallam Amos has dislocated his shoulder. We're running out of players in Wales," Gatland added.
"We have such a small pool of players and they worked so hard. I'm absolutely so proud of them.
"The pleasing thing for me was that we looked the stronger team in that last 10 or 15 minutes and that's testament to the hard work that has gone into this group of guys.
"The celebrations in the changing room were amazing."
Captain Sam Warburton praised his team for producing a result that he felt was one of the finest of his career.
"Wow what an unbelievable result. I think it was two very evenly-matched sides and I always knew there was never going to be more than seven points in this match, it was going to go to the wire," said the open-side flanker.
"Credit to England, they threw absolutely everything at us, they played really well and we had to be at our best in defence and gave a few too many penalties away.
"But I'm just lost for words, it was an amazing win.
"We've been in this position a few times at half-time. We might not be leading but we back the fitness work we did in the summer, knowing that in the last 20 minutes we can come through strong."
Watch all the analysis on Scrum V Rugby World Cup Special, 19:00 Sunday, 27 September, BBC Two Wales.


Agricultural commodities trader Olam International has started legal action against US short-seller Muddy Waters Research and its founder, Carson Block.

Olam has filed its petition with the High Court of Singapore after Mr Block made allegations about the company's debt levels and accounting practices.
Muddy Waters stepped up its attack on Olam on Wednesday, claiming in a letter that the firm "will collapse".
Olam said the claims were "baseless and unsubstantiated".
Despite the latest criticism, Olam shares rose by more than 5% in Singapore on Wednesday, to close at 1.70 Singapore dollars.
The tussle between the two firms started late on Monday in London after Mr Block made comments about Olam while speaking at a charity event.
Mr Block's comments were reported by the Financial Times newspaper and the Bloomberg news agency, and prompted a drop in Olam's shares in the US over-the-counter market.
Olam asked Singapore's stock exchange to suspend its locally-listed shares on Tuesday, before allowing them to trade in the final part of the day's session.
The shares fell as much as 11% after the Singapore trading halt was lifted.
In a conference call late on Tuesday, Olam's chief executive Sunny Verghese said the allegations by Mr Block were "meant to create panic among shareholders".
He said that Muddy Waters was looking to profit from its short positions on Olam shares.
Short-selling is a trading technique used by investors to make money from the falling price of assets. For example, borrowing shares to sell into the market in the expectation that they will fall, then buying them back at a lower price and pocketing the difference.
Muddy Waters, which is known for shorting shares and for taking aggressive positions against companies it alleges have problems, defended its claims.
"Our research into Olam has been exhaustive, and we plan to resolutely stand by it, regardless of any attempts you might make to discredit it or us," Muddy Waters said in a letter addressed to Olam's chief executive.
"Know this: You voluntarily came to the market, you subjected yourselves to its forces, and you must bear the consequences of your ineptitude."
Mr Verghese, meanwhile, alleges that Mr Block visited Olam's Singapore headquarter earlier this month disguised in a T-shirt and baseball cap and that he used a fake name to do so.
"Shorting a company stock is not illegal, but impersonating someone else and lying and working in collusion is definitely likely to border on illegality," Mr Verghese said during the call.
In its letter, Muddy Waters said that Olam's response was "disproportionate" and that it "evidenced a bizarre fixation for baseball caps".
A spokesman for Olam told the BBC that the firm would not be responding to the letter.
Muddy Waters rose to prominence last year after it shorted shares of the Chinese firm Sino-Forest.
It published a report raising concerns about business practices at Sino-Forest, alleging that the company inflated its revenues and exaggerated the value of its timber holdings.
That resulted in Sino-Forest's shares plunging almost 80%. The Chinese company filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year.
However, not all firms that it has levelled allegations against have suffered in the long term.
Last year, it accused Chinese advertising firm Focus Media Holding of overstating its assets.
Focus Media's shares fell 40% on the day but have recovered since then. Its stock has risen 60% in the past one year.
It has also received a takeover offer from its chief executive and a group of private equity firms, including the Carlyle Group, valuing the firm at $3.5bn (Â£2.2bn).


The Malaysian Grand Prix could leave Formula 1 when its contract ends in 2018 because of falling ticket sales and competition from other venues.

The race at the Sepang International Circuit has been a fixture on the F1 calendar every year since 1999.
Razlan Razali, the chief executive of the circuit, said Sepang, which can hold 120,000 fans, drew just 45,000 to the 2016 race on 2 October.
"If there is no economic value, why should we continue?" Razlan added.
Malaysian Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said competition from other Asian venues was also taking its toll.
He tweeted: "When we first hosted the F1 it was a big deal. First in Asia outside Japan. Now so many venues. No first mover advantage. Not a novelty."
By contrast, organisers of last weekend's United States Grand Prix say a record crowd of 269,889 attended over the three days at the Circuit of the Americas.
Last month it was announced that US firm Liberty Media would take over Formula 1 for $4.4bn (£3.3bn).


A man who cut off part of his ex-girlfriend's nose has seen his jail term increased by senior judges.

Dale Hathaway, 27, attacked Maria Vella with a steak knife after she asked him not to drive because he had drunk too much.
At London's Criminal Appeal Court, Hathaway, from Cardiff, had his six-year sentence for grievous bodily harm with intent increased to eight years.
He attacked Ms Vella at Newport's Hilton hotel in April.
Ms Vella was left needing more than 200 stitches to reattach her nose and is permanently scarred.
Lady Justice Macur said the original jail term was too short and did not reflect the aggravating factors of the case.


The sight of an athlete in tears on a podium is not a rare one in sport.

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But Tianna Bartoletta has said the World Championship long jump bronze that she won in London was so much more than a medal.
In an emotional social media post, made just hours after the final, Bartoletta revealed that she had been homeless for the past three months, having run away to give herself a chance at a life without "fear or fighting, threats and abuse".
While her husband John Bartoletta says the divorce they are now going through is "amicable", Tianna Bartotella tells BBC World Service about what she says was the biggest gamble of her life.
Bartoletta, who won gold at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, struggled with her form in the early part of this season and was suffering torment away from athletics, too.
There were things that I loved in the beginning that I completely walked away from. I just lost sight of what I wanted.
Other people would say 'oh, that's just what it took to be elite, it was a sacrifice, she's just the ultimate professional' but really, it was just me withering away.
I lost my personality. I felt that I became a stranger to myself. I didn't trust myself to make the right decisions. It felt like I was just getting broken down and I just couldn't take much more of the negativity.
It got so dark last season that it got me contemplating walking off a train platform in front of a train. It just started to feel that I had no way out of the feelings of frustration and shame.
Last season, I wasn't competing very well until my trials in July. To deal with that on top of what I thought was an overwhelming personal situation... I felt like I got no break from the universe and it was so tempting to just call it quits.
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For Bartoletta, reaching out to friends and admitting that she needed help to change her situation was a difficult step.
My relationship with my mum wasn't very close to start with, so we were already at arm's length, but when this situation started to happen, I withdrew and was isolated from friends and family.
My personality completely changed, and the most difficult thing was that while all of that was going on was that I was still being successful on the track.
Asking for help was the thing that required the most strength for me. A lot of people look at me and they're like: 'you're such a fierce athlete', 'you're such a strong woman', so it's hard to ask for help, right?
It was one of the hardest calls I had to make because I had to ask for help from people I didn't think were necessarily going to be there for me, because they hadn't been in the past.
When I first reached out, it wasn't to leave - it was just for the emotional support, to get a second opinion whether this was normal or if other people were going through this.
And then once I started to understand, because they were my mirrors reflecting my situation back to me, I was able to see that I needed to move on.
Bartoletta has been renting rooms to live in across Holland - where she trains - via a website. She does not regret speaking out about the struggles she has faced.
This has been my therapy - sharing this story with you, sharing the Instagram post, blogging. It has kind of been my way of healing.
What I love about this, even though it's incredibly uncomfortable for me to do, is that the responses I get are not just ones of encouragement, but people telling me their stories.
It validates my hurt a little bit in a way that says 'OK, you were strong enough to make it through', even though at times I didn't think that I was. For this person, to hear from you, that they can do it too.
The most important thing is, you're not alone. You know that, but you don't know it in your heart. You can be strong, or weak and it's not a reflection on you as a person. You're not any less of a person because you can't get out.
It's a very difficult situation, It's complex, it's confusing, and hard for a lot of people that aren't in one to understand. But take the time you need to look at yourself in the mirror and say 'you're worth more than that'.
And even though it is going to be scary, just keep making those decisions and you'll strengthen that muscle and it will become a little easier and lot less scary.
After making the decision to start afresh, Bartoletta threw herself into her training to refocus.
I think that that is one of my biggest strengths as an athlete - I'm mentally tough and I knew that I could put all of this in a box and deal with it later.
I'm no stranger to traumatic situations and bad situations unfortunately so this is something I knew I would be able to kind of handle.
When you're at practice, you're at practice and you're safe, this is what you need to do...  in a strange way, it forced me to be present because that was the only way I could to get through.
When I sit back and allow myself to think about the what ifs, it gets overwhelming and I freak out a little bit, but I've just been one foot in front of the other.
This [World Championships] was the finish line for me. The thing that I've been focused on so much till now, I'm a little bit lost again. Because I don't have that routine to fall back on but I'm figuring it out.
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In a statement to BBC Sport, her husband, John Bartoletta, said that in their time together they "made an incredible team" and that he would be "forever grateful" for having been a part of her success which included three world championship gold medals.
He said that it was his understanding that they were going through an amicable divorce, that he was very proud of Tianna and wished her "the very best".
If you are affected by the issues in this article, help and support is available at the BBC Action Line http://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline


Sri Lanka's punishing 26-year civil war ended in May 2009, but the story of the last six months of a brutal conflict will not go away.

Now alleged war crimes are being pushed onto the agenda of the Commonwealth.
"Bad things happen in war, but there has to be a full accountability by both the government and the opposition for war crimes," Canada's Foreign Minister, John Baird, told me on a visit to London for the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG).
Canada is now leading the charge to deny Sri Lanka the privilege of hosting this year's Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit in November unless it makes progress on a list of human rights concerns, including "meaningful reconciliation" with its Tamil community.
The UN says at least 40,000 civilians, mainly Tamils, died in the last months of the protracted war between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels. Other sources say the real figure is much higher.
"We find it absolutely appalling that Sri Lanka would be taking on a leadership role in the Commonwealth," emphasised Mr Baird after a meeting of the CMAG, which describes itself as "the custodian of Commonwealth values and principles".
Sri Lanka is hitting back in equal measure.
In a telephone interview from the capital, Colombo, cabinet spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella accused Canada of being "very biased, very unfair".
Asked about calls from Canada and leading human rights groups for an independent, international probe into accusations of war crimes, Mr Rambukwella repeated his government's rejection of outside involvement, saying it had its own commission and reconciliation process.
The cabinet spokesman accused Ottawa of playing to the large Tamil diaspora in Canada.
Despite Sri Lankan government efforts to rebuild areas ravaged by years of war, Tamil communities outside and inside the country remain critical of Colombo's efforts to reintegrate a population still deeply traumatised by a devastating war.
Mr Rambukwella insisted: "The Tamil people are much happier today."
With only months to go until November's summit, it is not clear what impact Canada's very public intervention will have.
Bangladesh's Foreign Minister, Dr Dipu Moni, told the BBC World Service's Newshour programme that her country would attend a summit in Colombo, but said: "We are urging our close neighbour and friend to take all necessary steps to fulfil accountability."
Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma said on Friday that he saw no reason to deny Sri Lanka the honour of staging the next summit.
He told a news conference in London that Sri Lanka was "engaged and willing" to improve the situation.
However, Mr Baird said he had seen nothing to cause him to advise Canada's Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, to change his position on Colombo's human rights record.
Yet again, this 54-member organisation - mainly former British colonies - is confronting divisions in its ranks on human rights.
In recent years, heated arguments over everything from gay and lesbian rights to military coups have made their way onto their agenda.
Mr Baird pointed out that the Commonwealth recently "raised the bar" by drawing up a charter that details "shared values" of democratic development and human rights. It was signed by Queen Elizabeth, who heads the Commonwealth, last month.
"I think this is a real test," Mr Baird emphasised.


Most collectors would probably tell you they couldn't put a price on their beloved collectables, but Craig Stevens probably had to re-think that one.

The Star Wars superfan made £15,000 selling a single Boba Fett figure, and now he's selling another 15 rare items.
Craig Stevens sold the pristine, unopened bounty hunter toy at auction house Vectis last month.
Now the next batch of his galactic goods are expected to fetch between £28,000 to £40,000.
The most highly valued item this time is a Palitoy FX-7 medical droid from The Empire Strikes Back.
A similar item sold last year for around £8,400.
What makes his profit margins seem more out of this world, is that the Boba Fett figure would have set you back £1.50 in 1980.
If you're reading this thinking it's a no-brainer for Craig, he agrees.
He said: "I'm living in a rented flat in my home town. You think to yourself, 'I'm in a flat and I've got a box of figures worth as much as a house'.
"There's no contest really."
He might even be able to run to a swimming pool - he's got 10,000 more items in his collection of Star Wars memorabilia.
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