NBA commissioner Adam Silver made history Tuesday by banning Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life from any association with the team or the NBA.
Silver’s landmark move was punishment for racist remarks made by Sterling and caught on tape by his girlfriend, V. Stiviano, last weekend. Sterling also was fined $2.5 million by the NBA for his comments.
The swift justice brought to Sterling wasn’t the first time a professional sports figure has been forced to step away for life. Just two years ago, decorated cyclist Lance Armstrong was banned for life from his sport by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for his illegal use of performance-enhancing drugs.
In the wake of Sterling’s ban, we look back at the five most notable lifetime bans in pro sports.
