I have no clue if I am right or wrong, but it seems that all the modern periodized training programs go something like this with my doping hypothesis in parentheses: base miles phase (an excuse to run slow while you bank blood), strength training (time when a steroid cycle is phased in), interval training (training that is so hard that mere mortals could do it without drugs), and a competition cycle (banked blood is re-infused bring about huge gains in performance).
When a non-doper follows the same type of cycle: during base, one gets fit and slow, then during strength - strong and fat, then during intervals - over-trained, then in the competition phase, the non-doper is crushed.
My hypothesis is non-dopers should just do a year round weekly program that incorporates all the following: base miles, strength training, short and longer intervals and races (or training races) at max or near-max intensity. Done over time, performance will vary based on stresses, sleep, nutrition, etc... and peaks will be hard to time. But looked at over a time horizon of a few years, progress will be much more evident than a periodized athlete.
Thoughts?