BEIJING — Star Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang is expected to have surgery in the United States for a foot injury that forced him to withdraw at the starting line during the Beijing Olympics.

The former Olympic champion and world record holder most likely will have the operation in the next few weeks, his coach said in the English-language China Daily newspaper Tuesday.

Sun Haiping added that surgery was the only option following consultation with specialists in the U.S. The coach said they chose to have the operation in the U.S. — it was not clear in which city — because of more sophisticated surgical techniques and greater chances of a safer recovery.

Liu has developed bone spurs between the Achilles' tendon and ankle bone. Other treatments, including traditional Chinese medicine and deep massage, failed to help.

Liu, promoted as the face of the games leading to the Olympics, walked off the track at the start of his heat in Beijing's packed National Stadium in August without clearing a single hurdle.

In a best-case scenario, Liu would return to competition by the world championships in Berlin in August, although "it is hard to predict any good results," Sun said.

In the meantime, it was reported that Liu will appear at the World Athletics Gala in Monaco as an informal ambassador for Chinese track and field.

Olympic hurdles champion Dayron Robles of Cuba has wished Liu a speedy recovery so the two can compete again. Robles set the world record in the 110-meter hurdles in June, finishing in 12.87 seconds to lower Liu's previous record. Robles won the gold medal in Beijing in 12.93.