Before the International Weightlifting Federation reorganized the categories, he held all three world records in the 69 kg class.

In 2007 at the 6th Chinese City Games he broke two junior world records and won gold in the 69 kg class.

However, in November 2011, the International Weightlifting Federation announced that Liao had tested positive for the banned substances boldenone and androstatrienedione.

[6] As a result, the IWF subsequently disqualified Liao from the 2010 WWC, revoking his gold medals and invalidating his record-breaking lifts.

[8] Liao competed for China in the 69 kg class at the 2013 World Weightlifting Championships, winning the gold with the highest snatch, clean and jerk, and total.