The 28-year-old man has denied assaulting the cleaner, a team spokesman told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

"This incident is the subject of an investigation by the relevant authorities and we are taking this matter very seriously," said India’s Chef de Mission H.J. Dora, a highranking Central Vigilance Commission official.

"Should this allegation be proved, the Indian Olympic Association will take the strongest possible action."

The masseur denied being alone in his room with the girl and claimed the incident happened when he was trying to set up a photograph with several Commonwealth Games staff.

Victoria state chief police commissioner Christine Nixon said an investigation was ongoing and that a 28-year-old man had been ordered to surrender his passport and remain in the village.

Gurbir Singh Sandhu, the Indian contingent’s general manager, said the incident was overshadowing India’s finetuning for the March 15-26 event.

"Unfortunately this has been reported at a time when the whole focus is on the Games, and it has somewhat taken away from our preparations."

He said the man, who does not speak English, had not been charged by police but had been barred from duties with the team pending the outcome of the investigation.

"He came to Melbourne as part of the team but he will not function in the role of a masseur," Sandhu said. "He is in a state of stress."

Police said the girl was OK and there no reason to increase the level of security at the village in the wake of the indecent.

"She is well," Nixon said. "She is certainly in good condition and we expect that we will conduct further investigations over the next few days."

Nixon said the maximum penalty for the charge is two years in prison.

She also confirmed the girl, who was employed by a private cleaning contractor, was no longer working at the village.