French rider Georges fails drug test on Giro

VAJONT, Italy (AFP) –

France’s Sylvain Georges of team AG2R La Mondiale celebrates winning the 6th stage (from Palmdale to Big Bear Lake) of the AMGEN Tour of California on May 18, 2012 at Big Bear Lake, California. Sylvain Georges won ahead of second placed Peter Sagan and third placed Peter Velits, both of Slovakia. AFP PHOTO/JOE KLAMAR

French rider Sylvain Georges has tested positive for a “specified substance” during the ongoing Giro d’Italia, according to cycling’s world governing body, the UCI.

The UCI said Georges had produced an “adverse analytical finding”, with the stimulant heptaminol showing up in a urine sample collected during the Giro’s seventh stage on May 10.

“Mr Georges has the right to request and attend the analysis of his B sample,” the UCI said.

“The UCI Anti-Doping Rules do not impose a provisional suspension given the nature of the substance, which is a specified substance.”

But the AG2R rider did not start Wednesday’s 11th stage.

It now falls to the French cycling federation to decide whether or not to open disciplinary proceedings against Georges.