He can no longer run a franchise and he is prohibited from attending games, such as frequenting the facilities of NBA and WNBA teams.
An independent investigation commissioned by the NBA has proven that Mr. Sarver had "clearly violated" the rules of good conduct of the professional world but also of the league, announced the latter.
He is accused of having treated his employees unfairly, using "words that do not take racial sensitivities into account", sexually connoted language and having an attitude of harassment.
According to the report, Robert Sarver notably pronounced "the n**** word" at least five times and told one of his pregnant employees that she could no longer do her job properly if she became a mother.
“I am sorry to have caused harm and these errors of judgment do not correspond to my philosophy or my values”, reacted the businessman, who however said he “disagrees with certain elements” exposed by the NBA.
The owner of the Suns, but also of the Mercury, franchise of the WNBA women's league, was under investigation since the publication in November of an article by ESPN highlighting, through the testimonies of more than 70 employees of the Suns, his inappropriate behavior.
The ten million dollar fine requested from Mr. Sarver, which also represents the maximum financial penalty authorized by the NBA code, will be donated to organizations fighting against discrimination of "race and gender", specifies the league.
His boss, Adam Silver, called the revelations about Mr Sarver's behavior "disturbing and disappointing".
Robert Sarver escapes American League excommunication, inflicted in 2014, for example, on former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, who was banned for life for making racist remarks in a recorded private conversation .
© 2022 AFP