The NBA announced on Tuesday that Robert Sarver, owner of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, has been suspended for one year and fined $10 million following an investigation into the franchise.
During the league’s investigation it found that Sarver used the N-word “at least five times” when recounting the statements of others, while there were also “instances of inequitable conduct toward female employees, sex-related comments and inappropriate comments on employees’ appearances.
As part of the suspension Sarver is not permitted to be present in any NBA facility, including offices, arenas or practice spaces for one year, nor is he allowed to attend any games, practices or represent the team or league in any official capacity, publicly or privately. He is also not permitted to act in any day-to-day operations of the team.
Along with the fine and suspension, he must also attend a training program that focuses on respect and appropriate conduct in the workplace.
The league began investigating the Suns following an ESPN report the detailed the allegations against Sarver more than a year ago. A former Suns employee, Melissa Fender Panagiotakopoulos, also detailed the toxic culture surrounding the organization in a letter to team management following her resignation.
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