It should be the default assumption. It is difficult to believe how otherwise-astute people can fall into the feeling-good traps of "talent can beat everything"

It should be the default assumption. It is difficult to believe how otherwise-astute people can fall into the feeling-good traps of "talent can beat everything" or "you need to want it more". PEDs get the user a very substantial advantage, from the ability to train more, to changes in muscles mass, to much faster recovery from injuries and so on. Apart from the health risks we all know about (which are in reality overestimated, relatively speaking, otherwise we would see former professional athletes drop like flies), they make the whole machine way better. Among the many books that have written on this topic, Speed Trap by the late Charlie Francis is enlightening.