Chinese Olympic hurdler Liu to undergo foot surgery

Liu Xiang is the 2004 Olympic champion and former world-record holder in the 110-meter hurdles. AP

BEIJING (AP) -- Former world and Olympic champion hurdler Liu Xiang will be operated on by the Houston Rockets' doctor for a foot injury that forced him to withdraw at the starting line during the Beijing Olympics.

Tom Clanton, who performed surgery on Rockets center Yao Ming earlier this year, is expected to operate on Liu's Achilles' injury within weeks in the United States, the China Athletic Association said Tuesday.

"The main reason for selecting him is because he performed surgery on Yao Ming and Houston also has Yao Ming and his family to help take care (of Liu Xiang)," Feng Shuyong, vice director of the China Athletics Administrative Center, was quoted as saying on the CCA's Web site.

Liu, the 2004 Olympic champion and former world-record holder for the 110-meter hurdles, has developed bone spurs between the Achilles' tendon and ankle bone. Other treatments, including traditional Chinese medicine and deep massage, failed to help.

The 25-year-old Liu, promoted as the face of the games leading up to the Beijing Olympics, walked off the track just before the start of his first heat in the packed National Stadium in August.

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