Donald Sterling has been banned for life as owner of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Sterling has also been fined $2.5 million, the maximum amount allowed under the NBA constitution.

Adam Silver will also urge the NBA owners to force a sale of the franchise. Silver spoke to several NBA owners and he's confident he has their full support.

"As part of the lifetime ban, Mr. Sterling may not attend any NBA games or practices, be present at any Clippers office or facility, or participate in any business or player personnel decisions involving the team," said Silver. "He will also be barred from attending NBA Board of Governors meetings and participating in any other league activity."

The lifetime ban is independent of a sale of the team.

Recorded remarks of a racial nature made by Sterling were released to the media over the weekend.

Sterling is the longest tenured owner in the NBA.

Sterling has a long history of racism and discrimination as owner of the Clippers and as a real estate businessman.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that a bidding war for the Clippers is expected to exceed $1 billion for the franchise.

Magic Johnson and Guggenheim Partners are expected to be one of the bidders for the Clippers.

Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News reported that Larry Ellison will again bid for an NBA team.

Entertainment mogul David Geffen was interested in purchasing the Clippers in 2010.