Romania's Catalin Burlacu suspended for three months

June 2, 2010

Another big-name national player won’t be playing international FIBA ball this summer, but this time it’s not about injury, “present circumstances,” or concerns of an NBA team.

Rather, the more insidious charge of illegal performance-enhancer use has befallen Catalin Burlacu of Team Romania and seven-peat Romanian League champion CSU Ploiesti.

The test which ultimately came back positive was carried out on April 15, after a playoff game against BCMU Pitesti. Burlacu was found to be in violation by Romania’s “anti-doping agency” ANAD based on that test and originally was to suspend him from play as of May 19. This was withdrawn, however, and Burlacu was allowed to play game three of Romania’s league championship series against U Mobitelco Cluj-Napoca.

Beyond Team Romania and Burlacu himself, perhaps getting the worst end of the deal was the Ploiesti team doctor, who was suspended from sports activity for four years.

The two serious suspensions are to serve as something of an example for Romanian basketball, as Romanian Basketball Federation president Carmen Tocala stated upon announcement of Burlacu’s suspension, “If in the future an athlete is found with positive doping test, he will receive the maximum penalty. Next season, every team will be obliged to provide anti-doping tests.”

Tests for performance enhancers were run on 19 Pitesti and Cluj-Napoca players during the championship series; the results of these tests are expected this week.

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This post was published on June 2, 2010
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Comments: 9
  1. 15 years ago

    OK, another day, another Ploiesti player positive. Brice Kabengele, another component of the CSU Ploiesti team, was found positive on the antidoping test in the final series of the championship. Even the Romanian Basketball Federation’s regulations are clear (if two players from the same team are found positive in the same competition, the team is disqualified), CSU Ploiesti will be not disqualified, president Carmen Tocala said. Dirty team, dirty championship!

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  2. 15 years ago

    Here is the news: http://www.libertatea.ro/stire/inca-un-jucator-dopat-la-asesoft-dupa-burlacu-290413.html

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  3. 15 years ago

    Here are The FIBA Anti-doping regulations 2010: http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/FIBA/ruleRegu/p/openNodeIDs/916/selNodeID/916/fibaRegu.html

    Art. 11.2, pages 24-25

    If a member of a team is found to have committed an Anti-Doping Rule violation during an Event period, the result of the game shall remain valid. If more than one member of a team is found to have committed an Anti-Doping Rule violation during an Event period, the team may be subject to Disqualification or other disciplinary action, in addition to any Consequences imposed upon the individual Player(s) committing the Anti-Doping Rule violation. In case of a Disqualification, the team shall not be allowed to finish the Event and shall lose the game by forfeit, as well as the games that have already been played.

    Art. 5.9.1, page 9 is the definition of “Events”: h. 1st division of all national championships for Men and Women.

    So, maybe CSU Ploiesti will have only 6 titles in a row!

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  4. 15 years ago

    FIBA Europe rules state clearly if two players in the same team are found guilty of doping that team should be disqualified from the competition.

    Interesting thing is tha some other players in Divizia A have the same problem. It is the case of David Lawrence of U Mobitelco Cluj-Napoca, Monty Mack of Steaua Turabo Bucharest. They also tested positive during the 2009/10 season. No actions were taken against any of them.

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  5. 15 years ago

    @Adrian, it’s not true. Lawrence was suspended for one month, but no other team coleague was found positive. Monty Mack from Steaua left the country and his team requested to be suspended, but he is also the only one player from Steaua caught positive. So no other team in Romania was found yet with “more than one player” positive.

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  6. 15 years ago

    @Lucian: You are probably right since you are a member of U Mobitelco Cluj-Napoca staff. Although at the time nobody/nowhere announced nothing about David Lawrence’s doping and/or suspension. Also Monty Mack already left the country when the news about his case were made public.

    Regarding the clubs, as I know (an that doesn’t mean they are not guilty): Monty Mack and Brice Kabengele smoked (that’s not doping). It is true, they have to be suspended, and that’s probably why they were kicked out of their teams. In the case of Burlacu it’s probably doping, but I don’t know nothing about Lawrence.

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  7. 15 years ago

    Iulian, I’m sorry. I broke my foot this week and I have a lot of problems. Scuse me.

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  8. 15 years ago

    Adrian, i am a fan of Cluj, but not a member of the staff. Lawrence smoked too, but is the same shit as doping. The difference is that Lawrence has never played after he smoked, he was already injured, but stayed on the bench and was selected for anti-doping test. Brice and Monty Mack played for their teams, and Burlacu the same.
    Sorry for your injury! An advice – don’t smoke, even if you are injured 🙂

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  9. 15 years ago

    Iulian, thank you for telling me about Lawrence.

    Okey. I’ll take your advice. :)) Thanks a lot!

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