Chinese star hurdler Liu Xiang's tumble during Tuesday's heat has drawn widespread sympathy as well as wild speculation about a possible "conspiracy" that some believe also caused the national hero to fail in the 2008 Olympics.

While the incident triggered another round of debate on the country's controversial gold-oriented sporting system, many Chinese believe Liu suffers from ruthless commercial interests and political overtone.

Amid the flood of comforting words were loud skeptical voices from both the public and media, accusing Liu of copying his act from four years ago under pressure.

With the title "Liu Xiang is the actor, who is the director?" an article on the Shandong-based Qilu Evening News cited a track and field expert as saying that it is possible that Liu deliberately kicked down the hurdle.

China's athletics team leader Feng Shuyong Wednesday insisted Liu's wound, a rupture of his Achilles tendon, was the result of an unexpected incident.

"Liu Xiang was very confident before the race," Feng said. He denied that the officials forced him to run while aware of his injury.

"Protecting athletes is the sports authorities' top principle," he said.

Liu is expected to undergo surgery soon by a renowned British doctor who has performed operations on top athletes including David Beckham, the athletics management center revealed.

State councilor Liu Yandong also called Liu Xiang Tuesday, saying his perseverance is the "best embodiment of sportsmanship and the Olympic spirit" while urging the delegation to provide him with the best medical treatment.

"It's normal that different voices are crowding us following the tragic exit, but it's meaningless to still fix attention on details of this matter," said Ren Hai, a professor of Olympic studies at the Beijing Sport University.

Ren said that the reason why Liu was the focus of public attention is that "he has become a symbol bearing political and commercial meaning other than a pure athlete."

Dong Lu, a well-known sports commentator, told the Global Times that Liu's uniqueness lies in the fact that he is the first Chinese to have claimed victory in an event dominated by Western athletes.

Tens of millions of Chinese fans tuned in to their televisions at home, in the office and even on subway platforms on Tuesday evening, only to have their hearts broken when the athlete crashed to the ground at the first hurdle and symbolically finished the race by hopping across the finish line.

CCTV commentator Yang Jian said while sobbing that "Liu Xiang finished his competition in the cruelest way that could be imagined," adding that "he is a warrior."

The scene immediately set off an online buzz on popular microblogging site Sina Weibo. Many echoed Yang's view, showing their compassion and magnanimity to the athlete.

Liu became a household icon after he unexpectedly triumphed in 2004 in Athens.

Back in 2008, when the starting pistol was about to go off above the Birds' Nest, Liu's sudden withdrawal infuriated tens of thousands of spectators.

Shi Dongpeng, another Chinese hurdler, said Liu chose to persist for another four years due to massive public criticism despite his serious injuries. "I am speechless about such a consequence," he said, the China Youth Daily reported Wednesday.

Liu has also been favored by a slew of products and was endorsing at least 17 brands before the London Games.

Liu also became a member of the country's top political advisory body after bringing home numerous gold medals from world-class competitions.

Dong said it is the time the country's sports regulator underwent reform. "As an Olympic champion and a world-record holder, Liu has never stepped across the 'invisible hurdle'," Dong said.

Both the authorities and the public should carry out introspection to realize that the essence of sports is "respecting the athletes' human nature," not use them as tools for different purposes, Ren noted.

Authorities said that Liu is not considering retiring.