Dank, who was found guilty of 10 breaches of the AFL's anti-doping code in April last year, was scheduled to appear before the AFL's Appeals Board on Monday for a three-day hearing.

But the board and counsel for both the AFL and ASADA received emails on Sunday informing them that Dank would not appear, seeking an adjournment and citing a family medical emergency which required his presence at hospital.

"We note it was Mr Dank's intention to appear in person, lead evidence and make oral submissions," the letter on behalf of Dank said.

"Unfortunately Mr Dank has contacted the writer ... distraught about the urgent admission of a family member into hospital.

"The condition of this family member is life-threatening and requires Mr Dank to be by their side."

After deliberating for 45 minutes, board chairman Peter O'Callaghan announced the rescheduling of the hearing for December 1, contingent on Dank providing evidence from the hospital concerned and the treating doctor by 26 November.

But that was only after hearing submissions from counsel representing both the AFL and ASADA that Dank's appeal be dismissed then and there, both parties clearly sceptical about the authenticity of his latest excuse.

AFL counsel Renee Enbom told the panel "no court in the state would have tolerated the way Mr Dank has conducted himself in this process".

She catalogued a series of examples of Dank's non-compliance with the process including his allowing deadlines to pass, his delaying by more than 12 months his appearance before the board, his failure to provide a list of witnesses he intended to call, and his sending of correspondence to all parties couched "in a threatening tone".

"I don't think anyone from this bar table was surprised to receive yesterday's email," she said. "I checked my emails, waiting for the 11th hour request to adjourn this appeal again. It arrived on Sunday morning.

"I don't think anyone at this table really expected Mr Dank to prosecute his appeal. He's done just enough every time to keep it alive.

"It's time to bring this process to an end. Everyone, including the players, is entitled to some finality," Enbom said. "They should be able to open the papers without reading about something which happened in 2012."

Counsel for ASADA, Patrick Knowles, noted that the email confirming that Dank would again not attend, received on Sunday at "the 11th hour", contained no medical evidence supporting his claims of an emergency, and was another example of his non-compliance.

"He has been given umpteen chances by this appeals board to participate," Knowles said, adding that the latest delay wasn't sufficient for the board to "grant him yet another indulgence".

Knowles also pointed out the significant costs associated with Monday's hearing, including setting up a video link to a witness in the US Dank said he had intended to call.