Originally Posted by
topflightpro
I think it's more about trying to overcome aging...
Guys that I had once had no problem beating were now crushing me. It was really hard and demoralizing. At one point during that time, I remember thinking, "Man, if only I could take something that would help me get fast again." And really, I could have. I could have started doping to help with the healing process as well as to help me get back to riding strongly.
I think its because people like the feeling of doing well relative to their competition. Its more fun and the possibility of achieving that is what drives racing and training for racing. If people can't get there on a level playing field, they still want that feeling and they want it enough to cheat. Doping does not feel like cheating to them, because they're still doing the work. But it gives them a physiologic advantage which is why its unfair to people who don't dope.
It made sense for you to not dope, because it was reasonable to to believe that your situation was temporary.
You describe the situation as "demoralizing". Would you have continued to race if your circumstance was permanent, if every race was demoralizing?