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.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Rashard-Robinson-Jersey/ . -- Yogi Ferrell orchestrates pretty much everything in Indianas offence. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Austin-Seferian-Jenkins-Jersey/ .com) - The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forward James Neal on injured reserve Tuesday. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Bruce-Carter-Jersey/ . Aduriz headed home Markel Susaetas cross in the sixth minute to open the scoring at San Mames Stadium. He bettered that with a long-range blast that went in off the goal frame in the 18th, and converted a penalty in the 72nd after Diego Mainz was sent off for fouling Aduriz with only the goalkeeper to beat. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Juston-Burris-Jersey/ . However, he did make them miss him a little less. Cundiff, who had the unenviable job of replacing Dawson last season, agreed Thursday to a one-year, $1. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Chandler-Catanzaro-Jersey/ . Soukalova missed only one target and completed the 15-kilometre course in 40 minutes, 32.6 seconds for both victories in this seasons individual discipline. Darya Domracheva of Belarus was second, 34. ST. LOUIS -- Robby Fabbri insists nothing has changed since being a healthy scratch for the first time in his career. His play says otherwise.Jaden Schwartz and Kyle Brodziak scored early in the third period to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 4-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night.Fabbri and Scottie Upshall also scored and Jake Allen made 23 saves for the Blues, who snapped a three-game skid and beat the Sabres for the ninth straight time.Maybe just more attention to little details, but my games stayed the same, said Fabbri, who has scored three goals in two games since returning to the lineup. Just trying to stick to that, stay positive and keep going here.Sam Reinhart scored and Robin Lehner stopped 27 shots for the Sabres, who lost their fifth consecutive game.The Blues are 4-0-2 in their last six at home and have allowed two goals or fewer in eight of their nine games at the Scottrade Center this season.Schwartz broke a 1-1 tie 44 seconds into the third period on a rebound past a prone Lehner, who had made a sprawling save to stop Dmitrij Jaskins breakaway moments before.It was a great play by Jask, Schwartz said. He had a lot of speed and made a good power move and just a fortunate bounce for me. I think anyone could have put that in.Brodziak tipped in Ryan Reaves pass to give the Blues a 3-1 lead at 2:16 of the third. It was Brodziaks first goal since April 4 against Arizona.While Fabbri is known for his skill, the second-year player changed the game with his fists by getting into a second-period fight with Josh Gorges a couple of minutes after Gorges checked Alexander Steen hard into the boards. It was just the second fight of Fabbris NHL career, the other coming Feb. 14 against Tampa Bay.I dont know what got into me, but I wanted to be that guy so I went out on that shift so I asked him, Fabbri said. And the funny part is I asked him again and hes like, `Are you sserious? and Im like, `Well yeah, kind of, so thats what happened.ddddddddddddSteen briefly returned after the hit, but was taken out of the game shortly after for precautionary reasons. He will be re-evaluated Wednesday.Reaves said Fabbris willingness to stick up for a teammate energized the Blues.It only motivates us when a guy like that who doesnt fight and hes a skill player goes and sticks up for our team, Reaves said. Youve got to give him that pat on the back and if that doesnt get you up, you might as well sit down. And he did a good job. If he would have landed that first one it would have been night-night.Reinharts power-play goal gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead at 7:55 of the first period. The goal came 18 seconds after Upshall took an ill-advised hooking penalty for St. Louis in Buffalos zone.Fabbri tied it three minutes later. All three of his goals during his streak have come on the power play.Lehner made 11 saves and Allen made eight saves in a scoreless second period. Allen robbed Reinhart with his left pad midway through the frame, while Lehner stopped a Jaskin shot from the slot late in the period.Were strapped for goals, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said. Were strapped for opportunities to get the goal and its not for a lack of effort, guys are throwing it out there and giving everything they got.Game notes Blues F Nail Yakupov was a healthy scratch for the fourth time in six games. ... Sabres F Ryan OReilly (middle body) and D Dmitry Kulikov (undisclosed) missed the game with injuries. ... Sabres F William Carrier was the Blues second-round pick (No. 57 overall) in 2013, but was traded to Buffalo in the deal that brought Ryan Miller and Steve Ott to St. Louis.UP NEXTSabres: Host Tampa Bay on Thursday night.Blues: Host San Jose on Thursday night. Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '