Armenian skier fined after covering "Azerbaijan" on race suit

Azerbaijan has filed an official complaint with the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) after an Armenian skier covered the word “Azerbaijan” on his competition suit during an international event in Italy.

The incident involved Armenian athlete Mikael Mikaelyan at the prestigious Tour de Ski competition, where he was seen taping over the country’s name on his uniform, Caliber.Az reports.

FIS later fined the skier for breaching competition regulations.

Following the incident, both the athlete and the head of Armenia’s Ski Federation, Gagik Sargsyan, sought to justify the action, prompting further reaction from Azerbaijani authorities.

In response to an enquiry from local media, Azerbaijan’s State Tourism Agency confirmed that it had formally raised the issue with FIS, expressing dissatisfaction and calling for stricter oversight within the framework of cooperation with the governing body.

The agency said that all measures taken in such cases fall under FIS’s internal rules and procedures, adding that repeated violations could result in tougher sanctions and financial penalties.

In a statement, the agency stressed that athletes competing in international events must adhere to FIS’s sporting and ethical standards.

In an interview with Armenian media, Mikaelyan explained that he made the decision upon seeing the jersey two hours before the start.

“I definitely had to cover up that name, I wouldn’t have forgiven myself if I had gone out to the start with ‘Azerbaijan’ written,” he said. His father and coach supported the move.

By Aghakazim Guliyev