BUCHAREST- Leading Romanian gymnast Marian Dragulescu has been told by doctors not to train because of a serious back injury which could threaten his career.

"I was stunned when doctors ordered me to undergo more serious investigation to know if I could carry on my career," Dragulescu told Reuters on Sunday.

Dragulescu missed the 2007 world championships with a back injury and only recently resumed training for this year's Beijing Olympics.

"I had pain in my back again and doctors asked me to go to the Unites States for detailed examination which cannot be made in Romania," Dragulescu said. "I'll know if my sporting career is over after (the tests)."

Dragulescu, Olympic floor silver medallist in 2004 and six-times world champion in the vault and floor disciplines, is one of Romania's best hopes for gold in Beijing.