USADA CEO Travis Tygart says there needs to be more substantial penalties in place to deter athletes from taking banned substances.
Speaking on Thursday's OTB AM with Eoin Sheahan, Tygart was asked his opinion on the case involving Superbowl winner and MVP Julian Edelman, who this season had a four-game ban for taking a banned substance upheld by the NFL.
Many have considered the penalty too lenient and say it does not fittingly address the nature of the infraction, considering what the 32-year-old was able to achieve later that season.
"I don't know the facts of the case, but we've said that all sport should be independent and you ought to be able to see the arbitrators decision of exactly what was behind that," he said.
"We've been very vocal; a four-game ban is not the kind of deterrent that you want. This case my be Exhibit A that it's not the type of deterrent that you want.
"There ought to be penalties in place for the type of offence that provides that deterrent - so that athletes don't intentionally cheat or take risky behaviour [sic].
"I don't know what was the cause of his positive test."
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Sporting organisations like the NFL, NHL and MLB over in the United States are responsible for doping sanctions and testing within their own remit, which is something Tygart says does little to inspire confidence in the public and in other players.
"I mean we've pushed, I've testified half a dozen times along with the players association and as well as the commissioners and those leagues on Capitol Hill.
"You have to make it independent. You have to give transparency and openness, whether it's written decisions in this case or otherwise. That helps [build] confidence, but also ensures athletes know what their rights are and have a real opportunity to compete on a level playing field.
"That said, we do work with some of them from time to time as a partnership on research."
