Momota, the first Japanese man to win a World Championships medal with bronze at the 2015 edition in Jakarta, was suspended in April alongside his NTT East Japan team-mate Kenichi Tago.

The 22-year-old, who had been expected to lead the Japanese team at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, admitted to visiting a casino six times.

Both he and Tago confessed to placing bets at an underground casino which had been raided by police.

They were suspended by the NBA for "more than a year", leading to their removal from the men's singles world and Olympic ranking lists.

A decision has been made by the NBA to remove the suspension.

In November, the NBA indicated that Momota’s indefinite ban from badminton could be lifted.

Since May 2016, Momota has resumed practising and has also been involved in rehabilitation programmes that formed part of his community service and it appears this has been enough to see the suspension removed.

"He has been working diligently [at his company NTT East], training with a great attitude and has been taking part in charity work too," NBA executive director Kinji Zeniya said last November.

"It's also a duty of the association to protect the potential of young players.

"We'll make the decision with discretion in a way that will be understood by the public."

Momota, winner of the Badminton World Federation Superseries Finals in 2015, will now likely compete in the Japanese National Championships at the end of this year.

The event serves as a selection trial for the 2018 national team.

There still appears no prospect of Tago being allowed to compete anytime soon.

Unlike Momota, who was just suspended, Tago also had his NTT East contract terminated after being seen as having instigated the activity.

Gambling is largely illegal in Japan and those found to have engaged in the practice can be sentenced to up to five years in jail.

Publicly-operated gambling, including on sports such as horse racing and on keirin races in cycling, is allowed under Japanese law.