A ONE-legged lawn bowler has been disqualified from his country's Commonwealth Games team after admitting sexually harassing a woman volunteer on the event's staff.

New Zealander John Davies, aged 60, who has a prosthetic limb, was ordered to return home by the head of his team.

It followed a complaint about a serious breach of conduct which happened on Monday in a public area within the Games environment. His fellow team members in the Elite Athletes with Disability Lawn Bowls triples combination, Peter Horne, and Barry Wynks, must now withdraw from the competition.

Davies said he was disappointed with the decision, which has the full support of the Lawn Bowls section of the New Zealand Commonwealth Games team and Bowls New Zealand.

He added: "I fully regret my actions. I understand that what I did was silly and embarrassing. I would like to apologise to all concerned in this unfortunate incident."

Games team Chef de Mission Dave Currie said Davies made a serious error of judgment which had brought the team into "disrepute".

He said the "spur of the moment action "was not a smart thing to do". He added: "It has hurt himself, his team and his country. John does not dispute what happened. He maybe saw it in a light-hearted and jocular way than the reality."

He refused to reveal whether the nature of the sexual harassment was verbal or physical because it would embarrass the woman involved further. He added that the woman had the choice whether or not to press charges against Davies, but had looked to the team to resolve the matter.