Donald Sterling was reportedly diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and was declared by doctors that he could not have a say in the sale of Los Angeles Clippers, TMZ reports. Sources close to the family told the site that the 80-year-old agreed to undergo testing earlier this month by two prominent neurologists.
Both doctors found that he had Alzheimer's and believe that he may have had the disease for at least five years. The doctors also said that, because of his mental state, Donald did not have the ability to conduct business regarding the Clippers.
Sources close to the family told TMZ that Donald and his wife Shelly Sterling have a provision in the Sterling family trust agreement that says if two qualified doctors deem either Shelly or Donald as having "an inability to conduct business affairs in a reasonable and normal manner" they will be stripped of control of the team and the other person will gain full ownership.
On May 22, Donald signed a letter written by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver saying that Shelly had full control of the team and its sale. According to CNN, Donald's lawyer claims that the reports are a "vast overstatement" and said Donald was diagnosed with a "modesty mental impairment" or a "slowing down."
"[Sterling is] far from incapacitated," the lawyer said.
Recently, Shelly negotiated a $2 billion deal to sell the Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. The sale still has to be approved by three-quarters of the NBA's Board of Governors, CNN reports.
"We have worked for 33 years to build the Clippers into a premiere NBA franchise," Shelly said in a statement. "I am confident that Steve will take the team to new levels of success."
"I love basketball. And I intend to do everything in my power to ensure that the Clippers continue to win - and win big - in Los Angeles," Ballmer said, according to CNN.
