The controversial sports scientist has been under heavy scrutiny since the Essendon doping saga came to the attention of the AFL in early 2013, with Dank believed to be the identity who initiated the supplements program at the Bombers.
AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal hands sports scientist a lifetime ban http://t.co/kgpRi0M1PJ
— AFL News Wire (@AFLNewsWire) June 26, 2015
"The Australian Football League Anti-Doping Tribunal has concluded its deliberation with respect to the sanction of the former Essendon Football Club support person found to have breached the AFL Anti-Doping Code," a statement released by the AFL Anti-doping Tribunal said.
"The Tribunal has imposed a lifetime sanction, commencing on 25 June 2015."
AFL AntiDoping Tribunal has ended its deliberation on sanction of former Essendon FC support person found to have breached Anti-Doping Code.
— Patrick Keane (@AFL_PKeane) June 26, 2015
The ban was handed down in relation to the AFL Anti-doping tribunal's decision to find Dank guilty of 10 of a possible 34 violations of the AFL Anti-doping code in April.
It has been reported that Dank was furious with the decision from the Anti-doping authority, phoning AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan and tribunal legal counsel Justin Hooper following the handing down of the verdict.
"We will now accelerate our legal action against the AFL and individual members of its executive who are responsible for this decision being handed down,” said Dank.
“They have contaminated the truth and impaired... justice, and now they will feel the full thrust of the law in relation to how they’ve handled this process."
Dank confirmed that he would be taking the case to the Victorian Supreme Court, launching a damages and defamation case against the AFL, key AFL figures and ASADA.
"I will leave no stone unturned in pursuing justice," said Dank in a statement.
"I will commence legal proceedings against witnesses who constructed and contaminated evidence during this investigation."