How has it got to this?

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fscyclist makes an interesting revelation to this example of why some guys and girls take that step into using PED's.

The guy that he is talking about doesn't sound like he was blessed with the natural ability to be a competitive cyclist, but yet had the obsessive desire to be one. Being at the back of the pack race after race probably was a discouragement to him. Rather than be rational and either be content with just the joy of being in the race and live with the results or make the descision that racing wasn't his "genetic / natural" blessing, he stepped over the line. Obsession to win is the underlying problem with athletes stepping over the line. For me I know by hindsight and being honest with myself that obsession to win was the culprit. This type of obsession can make a person completely irrational.

Have you ever heard an interview with an anorexic stating that they must avoid food because they are fat and yet the person is on the brink of death from starvation? That type of obsession overrides all sense of sanity. It blocks the sanity of legal issues or life or death issues or relationship issues. It will absolutely destroy a person and everyone around them can see the destruction except for the person who is in the obsession. I know because I lived it at one time and I know others who are living it at this moment. I could take you to personal website of a dear old friend that is virtually prostituting herself to pay her expenses to be a competitive athlete and I am very sad for her. Obession will destroy.

fs, you were probably correct that this person more than likely did step over the line. Even if there were a change in training either by individual discipline or by hiring a coach it is doubtful that a person can make that big of a leap at once. It would be more likely that the person would make incremental steps upward in placing.

I think all of us who have competed at a high level are obsessive, there is just no other way you will be competitive. If you are a professional, your level is that much higher because it's your livelihood and you've likely closed other doors to pursue that one singular goal. So yes, the obsession can put you into a very percarious position and that makes doping all that more attractive. It was very easy for me to walk away from cycling because I already had a good career lined up for me, and after racing for that long I was burned out. I didn't even want to see a bike for a couple of years.