Dick Pound, the former anti-doping chief, has criticised the International Olympics Committee (IOC) for allowing the Chinese authorities to censor internet sites, claiming it had done considerable damage to the organisation.

The scandal arose last week when it was revealed that a range of internet sites had been barred by Chinese authorities ahead of the Olympics - something that Kevan Gosper, head of the IOC’s Press Commission, said had now been resolved.

“With regards to internet access there appears to have been last minute progress achieved,” Pound, a former IOC vice-president, said. “However, there has been considerable damage done to us and in my part of the world what was somebody else’s problem has become ours.

“This should not have been in the glare of press discussions in August 2008 as we have all known that this could be a problem ever since Beijing were elected and we should have taken whatever steps necessary.

“This turned into our problem when it shouldn’t have been."

Pound, who ran third to Jacques Rogge in the election to succeed Juan Antonio Samaranch as IOC president in 2001, called on Rogge to investigate the matter fully when the executive board came to review the Games.

“The problem with internet access should not have happened,” Rogge said. “However, the other day I was asked would I apologise and I said I would not apologise as the IOC do not run the internet in China.

“There will be, though, a review of what happened when we come to audit the Games when they are over."

Gosper admitted responsbility for the confusion, saying that he felt his reputation had been dented because of the revelations, as he had said there would be totally free access.

“The uncertainties have been resolved but there has been a lack of clarity from our point of view and I take responsibility for that,” Gosper, who won silver in the 4x400 metres relay at the 1956 Olympics, said.

“Some sites would not have been suitable such as pornographic, subversive or those acting against the national interests. But there were valid ones who were also barred but that has been cleared up and all is calm now ... for the moment."