• Adam Pengilly left Pyeongchang after being summoned by the IOC • Other IOC members are welcome at Games despite being under investigation

The International Olympic Committee has denied it has shown double standards after swiftly persuading British member Adam Pengilly to leave Pyeongchang following an altercation with a security guard.

Some critics have pointed out that while the IOC delivered swift justice to Pengilly, other IOC members facing far more serious charges against them are welcome at the Games.

Pengilly has returned home after apologising for arguing and swearing during the exchange – before running past the guard and ignoring his calls to “stop”. It is the first time an IOC member has been sent home for disciplinary reasons during an Olympic Games.

How the salesman and the actor came to live their crazy skeleton dream Read more

However the IOC presidential spokesperson, Mark Adams, said his “understanding was that there was some physical contact” before promising to check the CCTV footage – which has not been made public.

“I haven’t seen the video footage,” said Adams. “I know we quickly summoned him to see the Ethics and Compliance Officer, where the incident was discussed.

“Adam Pengilly admitted that he’d made some errors and apologised and I think he has actually left the country. We are presuming that, because he admitted he’d done it, there isn’t a presumption of innocence any more.”

Questions have been asked in Pyeongchang about the way the IOC have acted given that Pengilly has been a rare critic of the IOC – including speaking out against the inclusion of Russia at the Summer Olympics in 2016.

“I am sorry for running past you when you had asked me to stop,” Pengilly wrote in a letter apologising to the security guard and published by the IOC. “I did not know that you fell over trying to chase me and I hope that you are fine.

“I am also sorry for swearing and hope that you did not misunderstand what I was saying. I have made a mistake and my behaviour was poor, I wholeheartedly apologise and wish you well for the future.”

The IOC currently has ethics proceedings ongoing against Israel’s Alex Gilady, who has denied allegations of sexual harassment, and Kuwait’s Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, who is facing corruption allegations. But men have denied the charges and are free to attend the Winter Games.