Donald Sterling has apparently given up his attempt to block the sale of his stake on the Los Angeles Clippers to the group of former Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer, as an appeals court rejected his petition to prevent the buyout.

Since Sterling's racist comments came to the public's attention four months ago, this ruling ultimately ends the Sterling's attempts to keep his team, and the series of tumultuous events that hit the NBA during the playoffs.

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Sterling's lawyers said they were deeply disappointed that their client had been deprived of the ownership of the Clippers without the appellate court reviewing "this harsh result."

"Nevertheless, we are confident Donald will be completely vindicated in his federal case against the NBA," the lawyers said in a statement. "More importantly, we believe that the 'popular' ruling in the probate matter is a serious blow to the privacy rights for all Americans."

The court rejected his latest petition, pointing out that "the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers to Steve Ballmer has closed."

"Thus, there is nothing for this court to stay," the ruling stated.

In May, Sterling tried to sign the Clippers to his estranged wife Shelly, allowing her to broker a deal to sell the team. But the billionaire owner backtracked after the NBA slapped him with a lifetime ban and a hefty penalty over racist comments he made privately.

The Sterlings had significant incentives under capital tax gain law to avoid selling the team. If they sold the Clippers, they would have paid hundreds of millions in state and federal taxes.

The legal woes of Donald Sterling will go on despite his initial loss. He filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against the NBA in May, which the league countersued last Monday.

TagsDonald Sterling, LA Clippers, Steve Ballmer