Chinese officials are hoping to speed NBA star Yao Ming's (
The Houston Rockets center underwent surgery on Monday to repair a stress fracture in his left foot. Doctors in the US said after the surgery that he was expected to recover in time to play for China at the Beijing Olympics in August.
However, back in China officials are taking no chances with Yao's health.
"After the surgery, Chinese medicine will be used to help Yao Ming's recovery," Hu Jiashi (胡加時), deputy director of the Chinese Basketball Association, told the Beijing News.
"We've hired medical experts to diagnose Yao Ming's condition and communicate with American doctors and we've reached agreement," Hu said.
Chinese remedies are widely believed across China to be effective, and are usually made of herbal compounds.
Hu also urged caution.
"Yao Ming's absence from the Olympics is something nobody wants to see," Hu said. "However, we have to listen to the doctors' advice. We also need to face reality. If Yao doesn't fully recovered from the injury, he can't give his best performance plus it could hurt his career."
Yao is China's best-known athlete and has contracts with several Olympic sponsors including McDonald's and Coca-Cola. He is believed to earn about US$25 million in sponsorship deals alone and is being heavily marketed across China in the run-up to the Games.
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