Jonas Oketola: Former Benin star says drugs ban ‘destroyed my life’ and led to father’s death

A former Benin international has revealed how a doping ban in South Africa “destroyed” his career, pushed him into suicidal thoughts and, he believes, contributed to his father’s death.

Jonas Oketola, who was 25 when he tested positive for a prohibited substance while playing for Thanda Royal Zulu in the South African Premiership, says it has taken him almost two decades to recover from the fallout.

The midfielder, born to a Nigerian father and Beninese mother, had featured for Benin at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations before following coach Roger Palmgren from Nigerian club Kwara United to Thanda.

But just four matches into his spell at the Durban-based side, he was hit with a two-year suspension after amphetamine – a banned stimulant – was found in his system following a random test.

Oketola is now an amateur coach in Ogun State, south-west Nigeria.

‘The beginning of my troubles’

“We had just played in Pretoria when I was called in for a random drug test, which then led to the beginning of my troubles and basically the end of my career,” Oketola tells KickOff from Nigeria.

“I had no idea there was any banned substance in my body because I have never been one to do such, but then it was found.”

Earlier that year, Oketola had undergone knee surgery. He explains that while recuperating in Nigeria, he bought painkillers over the counter to help him deal with the discomfort and sleep.

“Truth is that I didn’t know those painkillers contained banned substances,” says Oketola, who was 25 at the time.

“But then it happened, and I suffered the consequences, which led to the end of my career as I lost my contract at Thanda and went into mental depression afterwards.”

He says the experience has left him deeply distrustful of local medications.

He adds that he doesn’t use any Nigerian medication anymore since that incident.

‘My father died from what happened after this ban’

Oketola describes a rapid collapse of his professional and personal life once the suspension came into effect, saying he was dismissed by Thanda Royal Zulu and left without any income.

He claims Thanda Royal Zulu chased him away without paying him after the ban because they said they couldn’t keep him anymore.

“I went back with nothing and back to being nothing again.”

The financial hardship, he says, had profound consequences for his family.

“It was painful because my father died from what happened after this ban.

“Without employment, my father got paralysed and then later died because I couldn’t provide for him and my family anymore.

“My wife then left me after the drug ban because I didn’t have money anymore; you know this is the reality when you don’t have an income anymore.

“That became a difficult phase of my life, during which I also sank into suicidal thoughts,” he avers.

‘I nearly died as well’

Oketola says the chain of events left him battling severe depression.

“It was a very difficult phase of my career, and I could have easily taken my life had it not been for my friends in Benin.

“After my father died, I nearly died as well because I was depressed and having mental issues since my career was gone, my wife gone, and without money.

“I sold my car after I came back.

“When you don’t have an income, whatever it is that you have will eventually diminish.

“I then sold the second car, and since then I have never owned a car in my life.”

‘I can safely say I have recovered’

Now in his 40s and working at amateur level in Nigeria, Oketola says he has finally found some peace, even though the consequences of the ban continue to shape his life.

“The plus is that I can safely say I have recovered from all of that even though this drug ban messed up my career and life this much,” says Oketola.

His story adds to ongoing debates in African football about players’ access to medical guidance, the risks of unregulated medication and the long-term impact of doping sanctions on athletes’ lives beyond the pitch.