Ba has a history of failing medicals ... and it was amazing he passed the one at Newcastle 18 months ago ... having failed the one at Stoke City days earlier.
It was a bit of a joke at the time, Pulis suggesting the Stoke medical team knew something Newcastle's doctors didn't.
He wasn't laughing when Ba returned to Stoke months later in Newcastle's colours and score a hat-trick.
Ba actually dedicated it to Pulis.
Ba was left out of the Magpies' squad for their 2-1 home defeat to Everton on Wednesday, with manager Alan Pardew admitting afterwards that he was on his way to Stamford Bridge.
Ba joined Newcastle on a free transfer from West Ham in June 2011 and after impressing last season he has already scored 13 goals this campaign.