PYEONGCHANG, South Korea — The International Olympic Committee expelled the I.O.C. member who has been most critical of its handling of the Russia doping scandal from the 2018 Winter Games after an altercation with a security guard.

The I.O.C. condemned the member, Adam Pengilly, and said that it took the action to ensure that it did not run afoul of the host nation. After learning of the incident, the leader of the I.O.C.’s ethics panel, Pâquerette Girard-Zappelli, summoned Pengilly to a hearing, then the organization demanded that he apologize and leave the Games.

Pengilly, a former skeleton racer from Britain, left South Korea on Friday, 24 hours after the incident, which took place close to InterContinental hotel.

However, Pengilly’s departure did not end the controversy, as details of what actually took happened remained murky, with Pengilly denying claims made in local news media reports that he assaulted or racially abused the guard. Also, the I.O.C. was forced to explain Friday why it acted so quickly and so forcefully against Pengilly but has let investigations into accusations of wrongdoing by other members languish without penalty.