frtour1-6, Exercise 1: Why drug use persisted

Model answer (check the details):

Riders:
- Winning brought fame and money, and many riders came from poor backgrounds with few other chances.
- If rivals were using drugs, a rider who refused might feel unable to compete, and could lose his place on the team.
- The race itself was brutal, and drugs were seen as part of managing pain and fatigue.

Teams and sponsors:
- Sponsors wanted results and publicity. A winning team sold more of its sponsor's products.
- Team doctors and managers often arranged the programmes, and some felt it was safer to supervise than to leave riders to do it alone.

Authorities:
- Cycling's governing body and the organisers had a reason not to expose scandals that damaged the sport's image.
- Tests were weak or absent for the most effective drugs, and penalties were light.
- A culture of silence discouraged riders from speaking out.

Result: individual incentives and weak enforcement reinforced each other, so a few could not stop it alone.

Care: this is a general analysis, and individual cases differ; use documented evidence when discussing particular riders.