We've fought in two major wars this year (well past year now), one of them a losing war, yet were still able to retain a sanction spot even during wartime. Your alliance has achieved a sanction because non-neutral AAs are involved in the war and have dropped out of sanctioned status. I have respect for an AA like DT because even though they aren't fighting in this war they fought in the last and have rebuilt themselves fantastically since then.
So basically you got a sanction for doing nothing but existing. :P