Jordan's Princess Haya re-elected to equestrian body



TAIPEI // Princess Haya of Jordan was elected on Friday to serve a second four-year term as president of the International Equestrian Federation, the world governing body for horse sport.

The princess got 90 of 124 valid votes cast to win the required two-thirds majority on the first ballot at the FEI's annual assembly.

"Thank you so much for your confidence and trust. I promise that I won't let you down," Princess Haya told delegates. "I am truly humbled by what you have done for me."

She defeated FEI vice president Sven Holmberg of Sweden, who got 23 votes, and Henk Rottinghuis of the Netherlands, who polled 11 votes.

Princess Haya, a member of the International Olympic Committee since 2007, has made anti-doping a central theme of her leadership after scandals involving several horses who failed drug tests at the Athens and Beijing Games. The two-week World Equestrian Games ended in Lexington, Kentucky, last month with no doping cases.

On being re-elected, she appointed two vice presidents - Britain's John McEwen to replace Holmberg, and Pablo Mayorga of Argentina who takes over from Chris Hodson of New Zealand.

The 36-year-old princess, who competed for Jordan in jumping at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, will step down as FEI president in 2014 after imposing a two-term limit when taking office.