Romania's coach, George Buricea, suspended by ANAD! “From today he is no longer in training” » How the technician defends himself
Article by Romeo Ene – Published Thursday, April 30, 2026 7:48 p.m. / Updated Thursday, April 30, 2026 8:07 p.m.
The selector of the national men's handball team, George Buricea (46 years old), was provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency because it would have allowed the treatment of a player in a training session by a prohibited method.
Delicate period for George Buricea. A few months ago, the coach of SCM Poli Timișoara hit one of his players during the match, and at the end of March he did it again.
He sent the wrong message to the players during the second leg with Turkey in the World Cup preliminaries, and Romania shamefully lost the qualification to the next stage.
Now, the selector has learned that he is provisionally suspended by ANAD.
George Buricea, suspended by ANAD for violating the anti-doping regulation!
The reason? George Buricea called an ambulance to give first aid to a member of the national team, during a training camp of the Romanian national team in Bucharest.
Without a doctor, during a training, the player Răzvan Trif got sick, and the doctor on the ambulance called by the technician would have given him an infusion of vitamins.
The Romanian national team was accused of complicity and facilitating a method prohibited by anti-doping rules.
The news was communicated both by the National Anti-Doping Agency and by the club where Buricea is under contract, SCM Timișoara.
Răzvan Trif, the handball player involved in this case // PHOTO: eurohandball.com
The ANAD statement in the case of Buricea: “The athlete Trif Răzvan Cristian benefited from an intravenous infusion, administered by external medical personnel, with a volume exceeding 100 ml, in the camp location”
Starting from 29.04.2026, Buricea coach George Ionuț is provisionally suspended from sports activity, in accordance with the provisions of art. 80 para. (6) from Law no. 310/2021 regarding the prevention and combating of doping in sports.
The National Anti-Doping Agency (ANAD) was notified by the Medical Commission of the Romanian Handball Federation regarding a medical incident that occurred within the national handball team on 12/30/2025.
By Note of report/medical consultation registered at ANAD with no. 2/05/01/2026 we were informed that the athlete Trif Răzvan Cristian benefited from an intravenous infusion, administered by external medical personnel, with a volume exceeding 100 ml, in the camp location, respectively at the hotel, outside the legitimate framework during hospital treatments, surgical procedures or clinical investigations to establish the diagnosis.– Decision ANAD
SCM Timișoara complied with the suspension decision: “We hope that George Buricea is innocent. He is no longer at training today”
“Unfortunately for our club, George Buricea is suspended for violating the anti-doping regulations in December. It's not about drugs or anything, it's about violating a procedure.
Yesterday evening I received the email, the coach will follow the appeal path and appeal the decision, he will get a lawyer. We found out last night, the event is from December 30.
The coach knew about the event, he didn't know about the consequences. It is a temporary suspension, he is not allowed to participate in training or official matches. He is no longer at training today.
In the match with Dinamo, our second coach will sit on the bench. It is also about one of our players, Răzvan Trif, who is only being interviewed at the moment.
We all hope that George Buricea is innocent and we support him in the next steps. As things progress, we will take the necessary decisions,” said Laurentiu Marian, director of SCM Timișoara, in a press conference held on Thursday.
How George Buricea defends himself, after being provisionally suspended: “Trif accused a severe fever, and I only called for medical help”
Here is the first reaction of George Buricea, who tried to explain the whole situation created:
“The situation is simple. A player of the Romanian national team complained of a severe fever, and I only called for medical help, given that the national team doctor was not in the training camp at that time.
The player Răzvan Trif was given vitamin B and C to improve his general condition, which happened. More than that, I don't know what to say, but I assure you that I will give my full support to the commissions and courts that will work to elucidate this case”, said Buricea, for the official website of the Banat club.
