Lamar Odom strikes deal over DUI charge

Kim Kardashian's estranged brother-in-law Lamar Odom has agreed to enrol in an alcohol education class and pay a fine as punishment for a charge of driving under the influence (DUI).

The basketball player, who has allegedly struggled with substance abuse issues for years, was arrested in August (13) after police spotted him driving too slowly on a Los Angeles freeway.

He failed a series of field sobriety tests and refused to submit to a blood alcohol check, which resulted in the automatic suspension of his license for one year.

Odom was subsequently slapped with one count of DUI and pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanour in October (13).

However, he has since changed his his plea to no contest after striking a deal with prosecutors.

As part of the agreement, he will serve three years on probation and complete an alcohol education course by 9 June (13). He will also hand over more than $1,800 in fines and court fees, according to TMZ.com.

Odom's marriage to Khloe Kardashian has been under scrutiny since the summer (13), when rumors about his personal troubles surfaced in the press.

He checked into rehab shortly after his August bust, but left the medical facility after just one day.

It's the second legal issue the sportsman has resolved in as many months - he officially settled a paparazzi vandalism case last month (Nov13) following a clash with photographers in Los Angeles in July (13), when he damaged their equipment.

Odom has spent the past few weeks training in Rhode Island in the hopes of re-signing with the Los Angeles Clippers team in the New Year (14).