Intro:

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.

Script:

SOUNDBITE: (English) NBA Commissioner Adam Silver

"The central findings of the investigation are that the man whose voice is heard on the recording, and on a second recording from the same conversation that was released on Sunday, is Mr. Sterling and that the hateful opinions voiced by that man are those of Mr. Sterling. The views expressed by Mr. Sterling are deeply offensive and harmful. That they came from an NBA owner only heightens the damage and my personal outrage. Sentiments of this kind are contrary to the principles of inclusion and respect that form the foundation of our diverse, multi-cultural and multi-ethnic league. Effective immediately, I am banning Mr. Sterling for life from any association with the Clippers organisation or the NBA. I am also fining Mr. Sterling $2.5 million, the maximum allowed under the NBA Constitution. I will urge the Board of Governors to exercise its authority to force a sale of the team and will do everything in my power to ensure that that happens. We stand together in condemning Mr. Sterling's views. They simply have no place in the NBA."