Former Benin international Jonas Oketola has revealed how a doping ban during his spell in South Africa brought his professional career to an abrupt end and left him struggling with depression, financial hardship and suicidal thoughts.
The former midfielder, now an amateur coach in Ogun State, Nigeria, says the suspension changed the course of his life after he tested positive for a prohibited substance while playing for Thanda Royal Zulu in the South African Premiership.
‘The beginning of my troubles’
Oketola, who represented Benin at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, had joined Thanda Royal Zulu after following coach Roger Palmgren from Nigerian club Kwara United.
However, just four matches into his time with the club, he received a two-year suspension after a random doping test detected amphetamine, a banned stimulant.
Reflecting on the incident, Oketola said:
“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.
“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.”
He explained that he had undergone knee surgery earlier that year and had taken over-the-counter painkillers while recovering in Nigeria, unaware they allegedly contained a prohibited substance.
“Truth is that I didn’t know those painkillers contained banned substances.
“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.”
Financial hardship and personal loss
Oketola said the suspension cost him both his contract and his financial stability.
According to his account, Thanda Royal Zulu terminated his stay following the ban, leaving him without an income.
“They chased me away without paying me after the ban because they said they couldn’t keep me anymore.
“I went back with nothing and back to being nothing again.”
He believes the financial difficulties that followed had devastating 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.”
Oketola also said his marriage broke down during that period.
“My wife then left me after the drug ban because I didn’t have money anymore.”
Battling depression
The former midfielder described suffering from severe depression after returning to Nigeria.
“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.”
