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.