NBA turns up the heat on Donald Sterling
League formally charges Clippers owner over his racist remarks and sets the stage for fellow team owners to kick him out of the business
The National Basketball Association stepped up its drive to oust Donald Sterling as owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, formally charging that his racist remarks damaged the league and paving the way for fellow team owners to decide his fate next month.
The league said Sterling has until Tuesday to respond to its charge and may present his side at a special hearing before the NBA board of governors set for June 3, after which the league's 29 other owners who make up the board could vote to remove him.
His conduct undermined the NBA's efforts to promote diversity and inclusion
The recording sparked an uproar from fans, NBA players and commercial sponsors.
The furore led NBA commissioner Adam Silver to ban Sterling for life from the NBA and to call on the other owners to force Sterling to relinquish team ownership.
Such an unprecedented move requires a three-quarters vote of the board.
Sterling has refused to pay a US$2.5 million fine levied against him by the league and threatened through his lawyer to take legal action against any forced sale of the Clippers.