The NBA announced on Tuesday that Los Angeles Clippers president Andy Roeser will take an "indefinite leave of absence."

NBA exec Mike Bass:"This will provide an opportunity for a new CEO to begin on a clean slate" & "to stabilize under difficult circumstances" — Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) May 6, 2014

The writing seemed to be on the wall for Roeser after he issued a statement defending owner Donald Sterling after an audio tape was released by TMZ in which Sterling can be heard making racist comments. The full statement can be seen here.

With Sterling out, many had speculated that it wouldn't be long before the people put into power to run the organization by Sterling would be forced out as well, and this seems to be the first domino to fall in that respect.

Roeser became the Clippers' team president in 1986.