Furlong had claimed his book - "Patriot Hearts: Inside the Olympics That Changed a Country" - published last month that a deal with Moscow's Mayor Yuri Luzhkov may have been the crucial difference in Vancouver's victory over Pyeongchang.

Furlong claimed in the book that he and Bob Storey, the chief international strategist during Vancouver's bid, had met with Luzhkov at his office near Red Square in Moscow in the build-up to the IOC Session in Prague in June 2003, where the host city was selected.

In exchange for Vancouver running a bidding workshop for Moscow officials working on the Russian capital's campaign for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics Luzhkov allegedly promised the votes of the three IOC members, apparently in breach of IOC rules.

But the IOC have claimed that because no members were directly involved in the negotiations no regulations were breached.

"In the case of discussion with the Russian Mayor, the CEO of the Canadian bid met with the mayor of Moscow and as far as he is not an IOC member there is no concern," the IOC said in a statement.

"John has confirmed to us in writing that no IOC member was involved in any unauthorized discussion."

But the revelations will leave a bitter taste in the mouth of Pyeongchang officials involved in their unsuccessful bid for the 2010 Games as in the end they lost to Vancouver by only three votes, 56-53.

The IOC also cleared Furlong in relation to a claim in the book about "Korean hostesses" handing out gifts at a meeting in Argentina.

"We have sought clarification from John who has confirmed that no IOC members were involved," the IOC said.

"Of course, should someone else be able to bring us credible and more detailed evidence we will of course take action."