NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued Sterling with the ban after a major controversy over alleged racist remarks made by the LA Clippers owner which were leaked in recent days.
Sterling came in for an avalanche of criticism from major figures in the NBA over the weekend after details of a conversation he had with his girlfriend were leaked by TMZ in which he is alleged to have chastised her for appearing in public with black people and asked her not to be seen with basketball legend Magic Johnson at Clippers games.
As well as Johnson, Le Bron James was amongst a number of high-profile figures in the NBA to criticise Sterling for his alleged comments, leading to pressure on the NBA to take severe action against the 80-year old.
At a press conference this afternoon, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver confirmed that it was Sterling who had made the offensive remarks leaked by TMZ and announced that he would be banned from the NBA for life.
Silver added that Sterling would be fined €2.5million, while also urging the league’s board of governors to force a sale of the LA Clippers. That would require a three-quarters majority and proceedings to do so will start as soon as possible.
