French Gendarmerie raids Astana hotel: witness

PAU, France (Reuters) - The French gendarmerie has raided the Astana team's hotel on the Tour de France, a witness told Reuters on Tuesday.

Astana pulled out of the race after Kazakh Alexander Vinokourov tested positive for blood-doping following his victory on Saturday's 13th stage.

Some 20 gendarmes arrived on the scene with big bags and were searching the Hotel de la Palmeraie in Pau.

"They are even looking in the dustbins," Alexandre Marchi, a photographer with the Est Republicain newspaper said.