Dărăban began fencing at age 9 at his local club, CSM Cluj, where he was trained by Mugur Codreanu. He won the Junior National Championship in 2001 and 2002. He later transferred to CSA Steaua Bucharest and joined the national team. He placed fourth in the team event of the 2006 European Championships at İzmir, after Romania were defeated by Russia in the small final.