AIGLE, Switzerland — The International Cycling Union has appealed to increase French rider Sylvain Georges' suspension for doping at the Giro d'Italia from six months to two years.

The UCI says it filed a case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, challenging a ban imposed by the French cycling federation in July. That six-month sanction for testing positive for a banned stimulant currently clears 29-year-old Georges to return before next season.

Georges was fired by the AG2R La Mondiale team after his positive test for heptaminol at the Giro seventh stage in May.

Heptaminol is classed as a specified substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency, which allows athletes to prove they did not intend to enhance their performance.