Buffham was one of the key witnesses to feature in the documentary and he is said to have provided much of the information for the programme.

The statement reveals that “allegations of sexual harassment were made by more than one member of staff” during an eight-year period at Portman Square.

The Jockey Club also claim that complaints were made “in respect of the way Roger Buffham managed his team” during the same time between 1993 and 2001.

When Buffham departed from his post last August the Jockey Club did not reveal the details behind the decision, but John Maxse, PR director at the Jockey Club, today explained the reasoning behind making the details public for the first time.

He said: “It was never our wish to go public on the circumstances regarding Roger Buffham’s departure from the Jockey Club. However, it has become very apparent in recent days that a distorted version of events has been delivered to various parts of the media and as a result our hand has been forced.”

Buffham featured heavily in the Panorama programme and comments made during a meeting between him and Jeremy Phipps, who took over his position as head of security, formed a major part of the expose.

The comments made by Phipps in which he said the Jockey Club did not have the “backbone” to deal with corruption in the sport resulted in his resignation earlier this week.

Buffham was officially dismissed for “gross misconduct” but he today refuted parts of the statement.

He said: “I do not agree with substantive elements of the Jockey Club’s version of events.

“Now that the Jockey Club has made this statement I will respond accordingly once I have taken legal advice.

“This matter has for some time been in the hands of my solicitors and I will take advice form them before making a fuller statement.”