a) A summary of facts

Carlos Quieroz is the former Manchester United Assistant manager who  had  a run in with anti doping officials  when they arrived without notice to conduct random sampling on members of the Portuguese national side when they were training.

The Squad were at a pre World Cup training camp when members of the Portuguese national anti doping unit arrived when players were resting. Quieroz led  a verbal tirade against the anti doping officer's and made explicit comments regarding one of the doping officer's mothers.

Thereafter a member of the anti doping team made a mistake in carrying out a test.  The three members of the doping team carried out a report on the incident. The report contended that Quieroz's aggressive behaviour disrupted the anti doping team's work.

On receiving the report the Portuguese Football Authorities imposed a  30 day suspension on Quieroz for  unruly conduct despite finding Quieroz not guilty of an anti doping rule violation. Manchester United's  Alex Ferguson was among the character witnessese who attended the Portuguese FA's hearing  for Quieroz .

On appeal the Portuguese Anti Doping Authority  set aside  the decision of the Portuguese FA and found Quieroz guilty of an anti doping rule violation and suspended Quieroz for a period of 6 months from all sports related activities.

This decision was challenged by Quieroz to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland  for a final and binding ruling.

(b) A summary of the decision

The CAS tribunal  acknowledged that Quieroz had used foul language with the anti doping inspectors but found  he had not disrupted the test itself. The appeal was upheld and the decision of the Portugese Anti Doping Authority was set aside.

This decision was made on 23 March 2011.

(c) The Lesson learnt

Sporting organisations must impose sanctions that are proportionate to the offence committed.  Making an example often results in decision being appealed.