Armenian Skier Says Federation Will Cover Fine After Uniform Protest at World Cup Event

EXCLUSIVE: Italian event organizers have not yet finalized the amount of a fine issued to Armenian cross-country skier Mikayel Mikayelyan after he covered the word “Azerbaijan” on his competition uniform during a World Cup event in Italy, the athlete told The Armenian Report in an exclusive statement.

Mikaelyan said the penalty was still under review by officials and that no official notice had yet been delivered.

“I don't know yet how much my fine is, because the jury didn’t set the price yet. They will send the fine in a few days,” Mikaelyan told The Armenian Report.

He added that Armenia’s ski federation has already committed to paying the fine once it is issued.

“Our Armenian ski federation will pay the fine. I spoke with our president, Gagik Sargsyan, and he said that we will pay everything from our federation,” Mikaelyan said.

Since The Armenian Report published the initial story, many Armenians in the diaspora have contacted the outlet expressing interest in helping Mikaelyan cover the fine. The skier acknowledged the support and thanked the community.

“Thank you very much. I so appreciate you reaching out, and for those people from the diaspora who would like to help. Happy New Year and Surb Tsnund,” he said.

Incident at Tour de Ski

The incident occurred during the Tour de Ski, one of the most demanding competitions in international cross-country skiing. Mikaelyan was fined after he used tape to cover the word “Azerbaijan” on his racing suit while representing Armenia.

The uniform marking is tied to a sponsorship agreement between the International Ski and Snowboard Federation and Azerbaijan’s State Tourism Agency. Under the five-year deal, the country name “Azerbaijan” appears on athletes’ uniforms at several international events, including the Tour de Ski.

Competition officials said altering or covering official sponsor markings violates uniform regulations, which require all approved sponsor elements to remain visible during competition. Mikaelyan was fined for failing to comply with those rules.

Asked earlier about his decision to cover the sponsor name, Mikaelyan offered only a brief explanation, saying, “Why I did this remains between me and the jury.”

Wider Discussion

The case has prompted debate among sports observers about the balance between commercial sponsorship obligations and the personal or national views of athletes. International sports federations emphasize compliance with contractual agreements, while critics argue that mandatory sponsor placements can place athletes in difficult positions.

Despite the fine, Mikaelyan continued competing in the Tour de Ski, remaining focused on his performance in the multi-stage event.

The Armenian Report remains in contact with the athlete and will provide updates once the official fine amount is announced.

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