ABC News’ Maria Fleet reports:
The group that governs international equestrian events, including the Olympics, has lifted its ban on cloned horses participating in competitions. The Fédération Equestre Internationale in Lausanne, Switzerland, announced the change in June after discussions at an international forum of its members and experts.
Dr. Graeme Cooke, the federation’s veterinary director, says little was known of the science or the outcome of cloning at the time of the ban. “We now know that the clone is only a 98 percent copy of the original,” Cooke said.
The maternal environment, training, the skill of the rider and the rider’s relationship to the horse have an impact on a competitive horse, he said. “Therefore, we came to the conclusion that there were so many variables there were no unfair advantages that were contrary to the spirit of sport,” he added.
