The case revolves around a dispute brought before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ad hoc Division during the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics by David Quinn Steele, Jr., and the Puerto Rico Ski Federation against the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The dispute centered on the validity of the participation and qualification criteria for alpine skiing set by the IOC, which Steele and the federation claimed violated the Olympic Charter and unfairly excluded Steele from competing. Steele sought injunctive relief and monetary damages, arguing the criteria were void and improperly prevented his participation. The CAS ad hoc Division examined the standing of both Steele and the Puerto Rico Ski Federation to bring the case. It determined Steele lacked standing because he was not an accredited athlete at the Games, and his challenge was not as an athlete but as a member of the public with an interest in skiing. Without standing as an athlete connected to the Olympics, the panel ruled it had no jurisdiction under Article 74 of the Olympic Charter to hear his claim.
Regarding the Puerto Rico Ski Federation, the panel found it lacked standing because it was not recognized by the Puerto Rico National Olympic Committee (COPUR). Testimony from COPUR officials confirmed they did not recognize the federation as the official winter sports body, instead recognizing the Puerto Rico Winter Sport Federation as the legitimate entity. Since the Puerto Rico Ski Federation's existence and validity were unsubstantiated, it had no standing to pursue arbitration. The panel also noted that even if Steele had standing, his FIS points (142) exceeded the cutoff (140) for qualification, but Puerto Rico was only entitled to enter one male skier, and COPUR had already nominated another athlete. The panel dismissed requests for interim measures and monetary damages, concluding the criteria were properly applied.
The proceedings were governed by the CAS ad hoc Rules and Swiss Private International Law, with the panel having full authority to review the facts. The decision emphasized that challenges to Olympic participation criteria must come from recognized entities or accredited athletes directly affected by the rules. Since neither Steele nor the Puerto Rico Ski Federation met these requirements, their claims were dismissed. The case underscores the importance of proper standing and recognition within the Olympic framework for legal challenges. The final decision confirmed the panel's lack of jurisdiction over Steele's personal request and the federation's unproven legal existence, barring both from arbitration. No costs were awarded, in accordance with the ad hoc Rules, and the panel's decision was based solely on jurisdictional grounds, leaving substantive issues unresolved. The outcome highlights the strict adherence to procedural and recognition requirements in Olympic-related disputes.