NBA's Los Angeles Clippers Owner Donald Sterling receives lifetime ban due to inapproriate comments

As part of his lifetime ban, Donald Sterling can't attend NBA games or practices, be present at any Clippers facility, or participate in any business or player personnel decisions involving the team.

Story by ESPN
Video by NBA

Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has been banned for life by the NBA in response to racist comments the league says he made in a recorded conversation.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced the discipline Tuesday, saying that Sterling has been fined $2.5 million and that the league will attempt to force a sale of the Clippers.

Silver also stated that Sterling cannot attend any NBA games or practices, be present at any Clippers office or facility, or participate in business or player personnel decisions.

"We stand together in condemning Mr. Sterling's views," Silver said. "They simply have no place in the NBA.

"This league is far bigger than any one owner, any one coach and any one player."

The fine will be donated to organizations dedicated to anti-discrimination and tolerance efforts that will be jointly selected by the NBA and the Players Association, Silver said.

Silver's announcement came three days after the revelation of an audio recording in which Sterling made racist comments to a woman believed to be his girlfriend. Silver confirmed that the voice on the recording was Sterling's.

"The views expressed by Mr. Sterling are deeply offensive and harmful," Silver said.

The woman on the recording cooperated with the NBA, as did a third person who was in the room when the tape was made, a source told ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne. The woman verified to the league that it was her and Sterling on the tapes, according to the source.

The recordings that have been released were made last September, the source said.

ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne and The Associated Press contributed to this report.