Carlos Queiroz.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LISBON, Portugal -- Portugal soccer coach Carlos Queiroz was suspended for six months Thursday after the country's Sports Institute ruled that he disrupted an anti-doping test ahead of the World Cup.

The institute, which governs the National Anti-Doping Agency, said an inquiry found that Queiroz insulted an anti-doping team sent to test the Portugal squad before the tournament in South Africa and that his aggressive behaviour disrupted their work.

The institute said it has sent the ruling to the Portuguese Football Federation, which employs Queiroz.

Neither the federation nor Queiroz were immediately available for comment, though the coach has previously denied the charge.

The federation earlier this month suspended Queiroz for one month on a charge of misconduct related to the same incident in May. However, it said that though he had used foul language with the inspectors he had not disrupted the test itself.

An extended suspension will likely put Queiroz's job at risk as he would miss the first four of Portugal's Euro 2012 qualifying games.

The institute's 31-page report said that after hearing evidence from all those involved in the incident it concluded that Queiroz's intimidating behaviour had unsettled the anti-doping team and that, consequently, one of the inspectors failed to correctly carry out a test at the training camp.

None of the players tested positive.

Queiroz has said he was angry that the unannounced early morning tests had disturbed the players and admitted that he used inappropriate language.

Last month, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson testified on Queiroz's behalf as a character witness at the federation's own inquiry. Queiroz was previously Ferguson's assistant at Old Trafford.

Queiroz was widely criticized after Portugal produced a disappointing World Cup campaign in South Africa, where it went out in the second round against eventual champion Spain, and he has suggested that the charges are an attempt to force him out of his job.

Portugal's first qualifying games for the 2012 European Championship are against Cyprus on Friday and Norway four days later, when Queiroz's assistant Agostinho Oliveira will be in charge. Group H also includes Denmark and Iceland.