Benin's Oketola handed drugs ban

Benin midfielder Oketola has been banned for two years

Benin international midfielder Jonas Oketola has been banned for two years after being found guilty of a doping violation.

The 25-year-old, who plays for South African club Thanda Royal Zulu, was found guilty of using steroids after a random drugs test in November.

The South Africa Football Association banned the Nigeria-born player on Friday after testing positive for amphetamine after a league match.

"Two years is a very long time in football and this will really affect my career," said Oketola.

Oketola is a key member of the Benin national team, who have qualified for the final round of the joint qualifying tournament of the 2010 World Cup and Africa Nations Cup.

They are drawn against Ghana, Mali and Sudan.