Olympic Star Liu Xiang Clashes With State Sports System Over Retirement

More than a decade after his official retirement, Chinese Olympic hurdler Liu Xiang has sparked a public dispute with state sports authorities, shedding light on the bureaucratic hurdles elite athletes face in China’s state-sponsored sports system.

The conflict erupted on Aug. 26 when Liu, 43, took to social media to crowdsource advice on a sudden ultimatum from the Shanghai Sports Bureau.

The bureau gave him two choices to finalize his long-delayed retirement arrangement: take a coaching job or accept a financial buyout.