What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

Main character specializes in drugs, i think for limb replacement. Fleeing authorities? Ends up on spaceship with mercenaries travelling to planet. They do combat training in realistic feeling virtual reality. Riots during travel. Mercenaries drawn to main character due to his physical resemblance to someone..
Think i read it prior to 2000.

This makes me think of Peter Hamilton's Salvation series, which definitely has combat training and interplanetary travel and possibly virtual reality.

https://www.goodreads.com/series/2428...