May 31 - Good Ba Ba, based in Hong Kong, one of the world's best mile runners, has finally been cleared to enter the upcoming Group One Yasuda Kinen in Japan, which is widely considered to be the country's premier horse race.

After much speculation that the 6-year-old gelding would not be cleared to run in the Group One Yasuda Kinen, Japanese authorities have agreed to let Good Ba Ba take part in the prestigious race, which makes up the final leg of the prestigious Asian Mile Challenge.

The trouble started for Good Ba Ba after his jockey, Olivier Doleuze, was told that he would not be permitted to enter Japan after testing positive for cocaine five years ago. Japan does not grant VISAs to people that have been caught using illegal drugs.

And to make matters worse, last week during a routine drug test in Hong Kong, Doleuze tested positive for another banned substance. However, it soon came to light that the substance in question was found to be present in a 'vitamin tonic', letting the jockey off the hook.

After being cleared by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and despite his previous cocaine test, Japanese officials decided to issue him with a VISA. But another issue soon reared its ugly head, this time concerning Good Ba Ba's feed which, imported from England, was banned due to a foot and mouth scare.

Said Good Ba Ba's trainer, Andreas Schutz, ' No sooner had we sorted out Olivier Doleuze's VISA, then we were hit with the feed ban. We felt it was unacceptable for him to travel to Japan and be forced to eat Japanese feed which consists of only carrots and oats. This would have put him at a considerable disadvantage.'

Luckily for Schutz and Good Ba Ba, Japanese horse racing authorities concluded that as the UK was now officially deemed to be free of foot and mouth disease, that Good Ba Ba's feed would be allowed into the country.

'I am much happier now that Good Ba Ba's feed issue has been rectified, and while there is still a slim chance he will not go to Japan, right now things are looking good for him at the Group One Yasuda Kinen,' said Schutz.