Beijing (CNN) -- A bold headline on the front page of a Chinese newspaper Thursday screamed: "Liu Xiang knew, CCTV knew and leaders knew --only spectators foolishly waited to witness moment of miracle."
The headline in the Oriental Guardian -- a local newspaper based in the eastern city of Nanjing -- referred to a star athlete who had caught the Chinese public's imagination after injuring himself at the recent Olympic Games.
Liu Xiang, a world champion in the men's 110-meter hurdles and one of the country's most famous sportsmen, pulled his Achilles tendon while taking off and crashed into the first hurdle during his first-round heat in London's Olympic stadium. He then hopped the full stretch on his left foot, pausing to kiss the final hurdle, before leaving the track in a wheelchair.
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The high-profile withdrawal became a glaring moment of disappointment in an otherwise glorious run for China, which won 88 medals in London, trailing only the United States in the final medal table. Hosts and reporters at state-run China Central Television (CCTV), which carried the event live, turned noticeably emotional as Liu fell. Yang Jian, lead anchor for the hurdles race, sounded shaken and at times choked up during the coverage.
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"This is the reality -- this is the cruelty of competitive sports," Yang was heard saying on air. "Liu Xiang is like a soldier -- when he realized he couldn't reach the finish line, he rose above himself."
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Then came the claims that prompted critics to blast CCTV's coverage of the saga.
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Local media reported that, in a largely self-congratulatory meeting Wednesday reviewing its Olympics coverage, CCTV officials revealed they were aware of Liu's "serious injury" before the race and approved four scripts for the anchors -- including the so-called "choked up" option apparently used on air. The story was widely reported by news outlets across China and featured prominently on major web portals through most of Thursday.
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CCTV has no public relations department to respond to questions about its coverage, but sources at CCTV confirmed to CNN that an Olympic coverage meeting did take place. However, they declined to comment on what was discussed -- and asked that their names not be used -- because of the sensitive nature of the matter. By Thursday night, Chinese news articles on the meeting mostly disappeared online and some links to the original stories on social media sites appeared dead.
Fireworks light up the Olympic stadium during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics on Sunday, August 12. Check out photos from the opening ceremony.
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Meanwhile CCTV broke its silence late Thursday night, reporting that Liu had stitches from his August 9 ankle surgery in London removed in Shanghai earlier that day. The 29-year-old hurdler defended his actions at the Olympics, insisting he felt healthy before the starting pistol fired.
"When I lost my balance at the first hurdle, I felt my foot was whipped by someone and then I fell," he recalled. "I didn't know what was going on and just felt a lot of pain. I was sitting on the ground in pain and felt totally blank."
"When a stadium worker pushed out a wheelchair, I saw it and didn't want to sit in it," he added. "So I hopped to the finish line. When I passed the final hurdle, this thought just popped up in my mind and I wanted to kiss that hurdle."
Despite government censors' best effort to keep Liu's story positive after the event, many people had been questioning the reasons behind Liu's decision to participate if, indeed, the severity of his injury was known.
Read more: Is China's lust for Olympic gold fading?
On Sina Weibo, China's equivalent of Twitter, users posted more than 38 million messages on the subject by Thursday afternoon. Most recent posts appeared critical of Liu -- "feeling cheated" was among the most commonly cited reactions.
On Netease, a major web portal, users seemed to be equally unforgiving. Many demanded an apology from Liu, while others called CCTV shameless for "co-starring with him in a world-class farce." One of the most reposted comments read: "A group of con men spend taxpayers' money and cheat on everyone's feelings so that they can make more money for themselves - what kind of world is this?"
Like all other Chinese athletes, Liu is the product of a government-sponsored sports system that feeds, houses and trains athletes. Unlike most others, however, he has been a national hero for years and made millions of dollars in endorsements.
The Shanghai native shot to international stardom when he won in the 110-meter hurdles race at the 2004 Summer Olympics. At 12.91 seconds, Liu's performance in Athens is the fastest Olympic record to date and his victory secured China its first gold medal in men's track and field.
His income from endorsements surged after the Athens Games, jumping from a mere $250,000 in 2004 to more than $25 million in 2008, second only to basketball star Yao Ming, according to Forbes magazine.
Although his fortune suffered a sharp decline after he pulled out of the 2008 Beijing Olympics due to injury, Liu remains one of the top earners among Chinese athletes, with his near-ubiquitous image advertising products ranging from Nike shoes and BMW cars to imported nutrition supplements and local milk.
Chinese sports officials have vehemently denied the claim that their vested interest in Liu's commercial success -- the sports authority is entitled to a considerable cut from an athlete's endorsements income -- played a role in his decision to compete at the Olympics despite his injury.
"Our priority is to protect athletes, if we could have predicted he would be injured, no one would have let Liu run," Feng Shuyong, China's athletics team leader at the London Games, told the state-run Xinhua News Agency when the controversy first erupted.
Not all supporters have abandoned Liu, though. Echoing online sentiment that Liu is a victim of the system, some analysts say the hurdler should not be blamed.
"Liu Xiang's team and the Chinese sports authority should take the blame," said Guan Jun, a columnist for the Chinese edition of Sports Illustrated. "They operate with taxpayers' money -- so they have the responsibility to clarify to the public and explain why they concealed the truth."
CNN's Dayu Zhang contributed to this report.
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Athletes from Great Britain parade during the closing ceremony.
From left, London Mayor Boris Johnson, International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge and Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes enter the stadium.
A French athlete carries her nation's flag as the French team parades through the stadium.
British actor Timothy Spall portrays Winston Churchill during the closing ceremony.
Actors perform during the closing ceremony.
An actor waves a Union Jack from atop a mockup of the Big Ben tower.
Artists perform at the Olympic stadium during the closing ceremony.
Artists wave Union Jack flags as they perform during the closing ceremony.
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Another view of the performance by the British percussion group Stomp.
Members of the British percussion group Stomp pound trash cans during their performance.
A rendition of London's Big Ben makes an appearance in the closing ceremony.
British cellist Julian Lloyd Webber performs.
Acrobats perform during the closing ceremony.
Artists perform during the closing ceremony.
Artists perform at the Olympic stadium.
Actors dressed as Batman and Robin perform a segment from an episode of the British television comedy, "Only Fools and Horses."
Actors perform in the closing ceremony.
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A general view of the closing ceremony.
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Annie Lennox performs.
Annie Lennox performs during the closing ceremony.
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A general view shows the Olympic stadium during the closing ceremony.
Spain's sailor Marina Alabau Neira shows her gold medal during the closing ceremony.
The Pet Shop Boys perform their evocative song about London, "West End Girls." The duo originally released the song in 1985.
British group Madness, led by lead singer Graham McPherson, perform their 1982 hit, "Our House."
Madness saxophonist Lee Thompson is lifted into the air while playing "Our House," a reprise of what he did in the video for the song.
Chas Smash and lead singer Graham Suggs McPherson of Madness perform.
British artist George Michael performs at the Olympic stadium.
Global artist George Michael performs.
Athletes fill the Olympic stadium.
British singer George Michael performs.
Russell Brand performs during the closing ceremony.
Entertainer Russell Brand performs during the closing ceremony.
British comedian Russell Brand, center, performs at the Olympic stadium.
The athletes of the competing nations enter the stadium.
British comedian Russell Brand performs.
British DJ and producer Fat Boy Slim performs.
Brazilian artists perform during the closing ceremony.
Artists perform at the Olympic stadium during the closing ceremony.
Dancers take part inside the Olympic stadium.
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General view taken during the closing ceremony.
British singer Jesse J inside the Olympic stadium.
Jessie J performs during the closing ceremony.
Brazilian artists perform during the closing ceremony.
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A general view shows the Olympic stadium during the closing ceremony.
British rap singer Tinie Tempah performs at the Olympic stadium.
Fireworks explode over the stadium.
Brian May of Queen performs alongside Jessie J.
Fireworks explode over the stadium.
Matthew Bellamy of Muse performs during the closing ceremony.
A performer stands on top of a giant cannon.
Artists perform during the closing ceremony.
British comedian Eric Idle performs.
Artists perform during the closing ceremony.
Eric Idle performs during the closing ceremony.
Artists perform during the closing ceremony.
Dutch athletes parade during the closing ceremony.
Chachi Valencia, alias The Rocket Man, is propelled in the air at the Olympic stadium.
From left, Geri Haliwell, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm, Victoria Beckham and Melanie Brown of the Spice Girls reunite for the closing ceremony.
Victoria Beckham of the Spice Girls performs.
Victoria Beckham, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton, Melanie Brown and Melanie Chisholm of The Spice Girls perform.
The Spice Girls perform at the Olympic stadium.
A high-wire artist performs during a rendition of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here."
Roger Daltrey of The Who performs during the finale of the closing ceremony.
Girls perform at the Olympic stadium during the closing ceremony.
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Fireworks explode over the stadium during the closing ceremony.
Ballerina Darcey Bussell performs with the Royal Ballet.
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Ballet dancer Darcey Bussell descends into the stadium on a phoenix.
Athlete Mark Lewis-Francis of Great Britain films teammates.
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Model Kate Moss performs during the British fashion portion of the closing ceremony.
Artists perform during the closing ceremony.
British model Naomi Campbell, left, performs during the fashion segment of the ceremony.
Performers dance during the presentation by Rio de Janeiro, the next host city.
Fireworks light up the Olympic stadium during the closing ceremony.
Artists perform during the closing ceremony.
An athlete waves a German flag during the athletes' parade at the Olympic stadium.
Brazilian artists perform.
Singer Marisa Monte performs as Rio de Janeiro, the next host city, makes its presentation.
Artists perform at the Olympic stadium.
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A general view of the stadium.
Artists perform at the Olympic stadium.
A view looking down into London's Olympic stadium shows a rendition of the Union Jack on the stadium floor as the closing ceremony gets under way.
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Artists perform at the Olympic stadium.
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An athlete from Germany parades through the stadium during the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games.
Flagbearers carry the flags of the 204 countries that participated in the Olympics.
The Olympic cauldron burns during the closing ceremony.
Flagbearers parade during the closing ceremony.
Athletes gather in the center of the stadium to form a giant, living rendition of the British Union Jack.
A female athlete from Germany rides on the shoulders of a male teammate during the closing ceremony.
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Athletes from the 30th Olympics enter Olympic stadium in London.
Athletes form a living Union Jack on the floor of Olympic stadium.
Spectators applaud the ceremony from high above the floor.
A general view shows the vastness of the stadium.
The sun sets over the Olympic Stadium few minutes before the start of the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games.
The Olympic Cauldron burns at the center of the stadium.
The Olympic Cauldron burns during the closing ceremony. Look back at photos from the opening ceremony.
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