The National Basketball Association (NBA) has reportedly banned US business magnate and Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling from professional basketball for life over his racist comments, which were dubbed 'deeply offensive and harmful'.
In a recording made public over the weekend, the man now confirmed to be Sterling told his much-younger girlfriend that he did not want her associating with black people or attending Clippers games with black friends.
According to Sport24, the 80-year-old real estate tycoon, who bought the Clippers in 1981, was fined 2.5 million dollars and barred from all games, team facilities and board meetings after his comments outraged players, coaches and sent team sponsors running.
Expressing his outrage, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said that the views expressed by Sterling are deeply offensive and harmful, adding that Sterling had confirmed he made the comments in question.
Silver said he would urge the NBA board of governors to 'exercise its authority to force a sale of the team' and would personally push for such a move as it has been a 'painful moment' for the NBA for which 'appropriate healing' will be necessary.
Clippers players staged a silent on-court protest, shedding their pre-game warm-up gear and wearing shirts inside-out to mask the team name and logo, along with black socks and wristbands during a game.
Stating that Sterling had not expressed any remorse to him personally, Silver explained that owners have the authority to remove him as the owner of the Clippers, subject to a 75 percent approval vote from owners of the league's other 29 clubs.
Airline Virgin America, insurance giant State Farm, Kia Motors, Red Bull, Sprint and AQUAhydrate, a water brand owned by rap star Sean 'Diddy' Combs, all said they would suspend their sponsorship, the report added.