CHINA

Olympic Star Liu Xiang Clashes With State Sports System Over Retirement

Published: Aug. 28, 2026 1:08 p.m. GMT+8

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Liu Xiang competes for the men's 110m hurdles title at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Nov. 24, 2010. Photo: IC Photo

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.

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Liu Xiang, 2004 Olympic hurdles champion, publicly disputed a Shanghai Sports Bureau ultimatum to take a coaching job or accept a buyout, more than a decade after retiring in 2015.
He criticized the delayed placement and raised unresolved questions over advertising fee distribution, noting officials waited “10 years” to act.
The push appears linked to a disciplinary crackdown; the bureau admitted loose oversight of athletes “on the payroll but not at work.”

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What Happened When

Aug. 26, 2026：: Liu Xiang took to social media to crowdsource advice on an ultimatum from the Shanghai Sports Bureau, revealing his post-career placement had remained unresolved since 2015.