Constructors Association that controlled the business side of the sport, including selling the TV rights. The British-based company later became known as Formula One Ma

LONDON -- Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has been charged by German prosecutors with paying a $44 million bribe, placing his future as head of the motor sport series in doubt. The 82-year-old British billionaire has been under investigation since a German banker was convicted of taking the payment from him in connection with the sale of a stake in F1. The Munich state court said Ecclestone has until mid-August to respond to charges of bribery and incitement to breach of trust in connection with Gerhard Gribkowskys management of the bank BayernLBs 47 per cent stake in F1. Ecclestone, the longtime commercial head of F1, acknowledged during Gribkowskys trial in 2011 that he made the payment five years earlier but said he was pressured to do so. Ecclestones indictment was dated on May 10 and has since been translated into English and delivered to Ecclestone and his lawyers, the court said. "The lawyers have accepted an indictment," Ecclestone told The Associated Press. "It means they have to reply to the indictment, which they are strenuously doing." Ecclestone, whom Forbes magazine reports is worth $3.8 billion, said he is yet to read the indictment. "They are alleging I bribed someone," Ecclestone said, while insisting he did "nothing illegal." Sentences in Germany for bribery range from three months to 10 years in prison. CVC Capital Partners, the investment group that has owned F1s commercial rights since 2006, issued no direct comment Wednesday about the future of Ecclestone. "Mr. Ecclestone has six weeks to provide a response to this bill of indictment prior to a decision being made by the court on opening proceedings," the board of Formula One Group said in a statement. "The board will continue to monitor developments in this situation accordingly." Ecclestone was retained as chief executive of F1 by CVC after it took control of the sport following the takeover that sparked the bribery case. Gribkowsky was in charge of selling BayernLBs stake in F1 to CVC. In addition to taking the money from Ecclestone, Gribkowsky used BayernLBs funds to pay the F1 chief a commission of $41.4 million and agreed to pay a further $25 million to Bambino Trust, a company with which Ecclestone was affiliated, prosecutors said during the trial in 2011. Ecclestone told the court he deserved a commission for the sale, saying "I did a very, very good job." On Wednesday, he told the AP: "They wanted money. I was shaken down by the guys. Its happened in life before." Gribkowsky, who has largely admitted the charges, was sentenced to 8 1/2 years in prison after being found guilty last year of corruption, tax evasion and breach of trust. Ecclestones German lawyers, Sven Thomas and Norbert Scharf, said they will soon submit a "comprehensive response" to the court -- and the central issue in that response will be "the varying confessions of Mr. Gribkowsky." Ecclestone was savvy in building his power base in F1 from the 1970s and helped to create the Formula One Constructors Association that controlled the business side of the sport, including selling the TV rights. The British-based company later became known as Formula One Management. It has fought regular tussles with the teams over finances, but has retained control of global motor racing extravaganza. CVC, having amassed a 63 per cent stake of F1, has reduced its holding as other investors have come on board in recent years, although a planned flotation has stalled. Ecclestones holding has been diluted to about 5 per cent. http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-Derek-Carr-Draft-Jersey/ .S. -- Nikolaj Ehlers registered a hat trick for the third straight game and Jonathan Drouin had a goal and five assists as the Halifax Mooseheads hammered the host Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 10-1 on Tuesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-Jordy-Nelson-Draft-Jersey/ . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-Marquel-Lee-Draft-Jersey/ . The incident occurred at 19:56 of the second period of the Kings 4-2 road win over Edmonton on Sunday. Nolan punched Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu in the jaw in front of the Kings goal during a scrum. http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-Otis-Sistrunk-Draft-Jersey/ . The (11-11-4) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 26 points. Fifth place Dallas and sixth-seeded Nashville also have 26 points, but the Stars have three games in hand on Winnipeg while Nashville has two. http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-Rodney-Hudson-Draft-Jersey/ . LOUIS -- St. Greeny and Golic welcome ESPN NFL analyst Tom Waddle (6:30 a.m. ET), ESPN NFL Insider Louis Riddick (7:00), ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter (8:30), Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin (9:00) and ESPN NFL analyst Donovan McNabb (9:30) to the show on Monday.Get in touch with Mike & Mike by emailing (mikeeandmike@espnradio.ddddddddddddcom) or tweeting (@MikeAndMike) the guys -- we will be with you from 6-10 a.m. ET. Follow all of the action on ESPN2, ESPN Radio and ESPNRadio.com. 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