The major problem I see with the current system of testing and punishment is that it provides absolutely no incentive for athletes to come clean and tell the anti-doping authorities what they know. Doping is systemic. Athletes receive instructions from team principals, doctors and trainers, each of whom has a network of suppliers. When an athlete is caught, these enablers are able to slink away mostly untouched. It is only after one of these enablers is connected to dozens of positive tests that anyone starts to take notice (e.g. Dr. Ferrari and Trevor Graham).
With two-year bans for first positive tests, athletes have every incentive to keep their mouth shut or come up with some silly "contaminated meat" excuse. If athletes keep their heads down, then they will be able to resume their careers as though nothing ever happened. If, however, they name names, athletes are ostracized from the sport and will likely never be able to return to the same level, especially in team endurance sports such as cycling.
To address this problem, doping authorities need to be able to ban athletes for life if, after testing positive for the first time, the athletes fail to cooperate with a further investigation into the circumstances of the positive test. Athletes who want to roll the dice can come up with some Landis-like or Contador-like excuse, but, in the event that they are unsuccessful at trial or on appeal, they would face a lifetime ban. Only through meaningful cooperation that results in a full picture of the circumstances of the positive test should an athlete be able to get anything less than a lifetime ban.
With two-year bans for first positive tests, athletes have every incentive to keep their mouth shut or come up with some silly "contaminated meat" excuse. If athletes keep their heads down, then they will be able to resume their careers as though nothing ever happened. If, however, they name names, athletes are ostracized from the sport and will likely never be able to return to the same level, especially in team endurance sports such as cycling.
To address this problem, doping authorities need to be able to ban athletes for life if, after testing positive for the first time, the athletes fail to cooperate with a further investigation into the circumstances of the positive test. Athletes who want to roll the dice can come up with some Landis-like or Contador-like excuse, but, in the event that they are unsuccessful at trial or on appeal, they would face a lifetime ban. Only through meaningful cooperation that results in a full picture of the circumstances of the positive test should an athlete be able to get anything less than a lifetime ban.