Sterling hit with life ban for racist insults

BASKETBALL: Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has been banned for life from the NBA and fined 2.5 million US dollars (€1.8million) after being found guilty of making racist comments on tape.

The 80-year-old had found himself at the centre of huge controversy in the USA after American network TMZ had broadcast Sterling apparently telling a girlfriend not to bring black people to the team’s games.

His comments had led to Clippers players making a silent protest ahead of their NBA Western Conference play-off series defeat to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday evening, while financial backers have been withdrawing their support for the club.

The NBA has taken a dim view of the furore and a statement on the league’s Twitter account revealed Sterling had “violated league rules through his expressions of offensive and hurtful views, the impact of which has been widely felt throughout the league”.

He is therefore banned from any association with the Clippers or the NBA, meaning he may not be allowed to attend any games or practice sessions.