HOUSTON -- Former world and Olympic champion hurdler Liu Xiang has undergone successful surgery for a foot injury that forced him to withdraw at the starting line during the Beijing Olympics.

China's star hurdler Liu Xiang arrives at Los Angeles International Airport in the United States to transfer flight to Houston on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008. [Agencies]

Dr. Tom Clanton said Friday that the 25-year-old Liu had four small pieces of bone removed from the Achilles' tendon in his right foot in a one-hour operation at the Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center in Houston.

Clanton, who operated on Houston Rockets center Yao Ming's injured foot earlier this year, says Liu will fully recover.

Liu, the 2004 Olympic champion and former world record holder for the 110-meter hurdles, developed bone spurs between the Achilles' tendon and ankle bone. Other treatments, including traditional Chinese medicine and deep massage, failed to help.