Sport bureau dangles job

The local sport authority said Saturday that it is up to Liu Xiang, the iconic hurdler who won an Olympic gold medal in 2004, to decide whether he is going to retire after he returns to China.

The Shanghai Municipal Sports Bureau said that Liu, who is undergoing rehabilitation in the US, doesn't have much of a chance to participate in this year's National Games, according to a news report on Dragon TV. It also pointed out that the 30-year-old would be a little old to participate in the next Olympic Games in 2016.

Liu tripped over his first hurdle during the 2012 Olympics, injuring his right Achilles tendon. It was the second consecutive Olympic Games that the foot injury undermined his performance. In 2008, he withdrew from the games after feeling pain in his tendon.

Li Yuyi, the director of the Shanghai Municipal Sports Bureau, said that Liu is studying English and management while in the US, according to the report. He hoped Liu could start a new career helping the bureau with its management work.

Liu Xuegen, the athlete's father, said that it was premature to talk about his son's retirement, the Qianjiang Evening News reported.

The decision is ultimately the younger Liu's to make, said Yu Jian, a press officer with the sports bureau.

A senior director of the local training center where Liu trained every day before undergoing rehabilitation told the Global Times that he was surprised that people were again speculating about Liu's retirement.