[2] Dărăban began fencing at age 9 at his local club, CSM Cluj, where he was trained by Mugur Codreanu.

He placed fourth in the team event of the 2006 European Championships at İzmir, after Romania were defeated by Russia in the small final.

[3] In London, he disposed 15–8 of Choi Nicholas Edward of Hong Kong, then met World silver medal Valerio Aspromonte.

[3] After winning the Romanian Cup in October 2013 Dărăban transferred to CSU Cluj, where he began coaching.

After making it out of pools, he defeated Turkey's Tevfik Burak Babaoğlu in the table of 64, but was stopped by Timur Safin of Russia.