Donald Sterling loses appeal to block Los Angeles Clippers sale

Los Angeles: A California appeals court has shot down Donald Sterling’s latest effort to block the $2 billion (Dh7.34 billion) sale of the Los Angeles Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

The second Appellate District Court issued a brief ruling on Wednesday saying there was nothing it could do because the team had been sold.

Ballmer closed the deal on Tuesday after a probate court judge cleared the way for Sterling’s estranged wife to sell the team.

The judge said Shelly Sterling had properly removed her husband from the family trust that owned the team after he was banned from the NBA for making derogatory remarks about blacks.

Ballmer’s lawyer said Clippers fans would rejoice with the latest blow to the unpopular former owner, who bought the team in 1981 for $12 million.