Olympic champion hurdler Liu Xiang's coach has hit back at claims the Athens gold medallist participated in too many commercial activities, local media reported on Thursday.
Olympic champion hurdler Liu Xiang undergoes intensive training at Er'sha Island training base in south China's Guangdong Province November 10,2006.Liu Xiang is preparing for the upcoming Doha Asian Games to be held from December 1st to 15th. [Xinhua] |
Earlier in the month, China's sports ministry banned athletes from making public appearances and participating in commercial activities that could interfere with their training regimes ahead of the Olympics.
Wei Jizhong, former general secretary of the Chinese Olympic Committee and a consultant to the Beijing Organising Committee of the Olympic Games, endorsed the decision, and singled out Liu Xiang as an athlete who had not managed his commercial image effectively, the Beijing News reported earlier in the month.
"Many people think that Liu Xiang participates in so many social or commercial activities to make money," Sun Haiping, Liu's coach, told the paper.
"In fact, that is not the case. The great majority of activities are not paid and are passed on to him by related parties," Sun said.
The sports ministry's ban, which had prevented Liu Xiang from attending a ceremony unveiling the official emblem of the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games on Sunday, would safeguard Liu Xiang's training regime, he added.
"Now, it is fine. After having this kind of strict control, Liu Xiang's training can be guaranteed."
