An Armenian athlete, Mikael Mikaelyan, has sparked controversy at the prestigious Tour de Ski competition held in Italy.

According to Offsideplus.az, during the race he attempted to conceal the word “Azerbaijan” on his uniform by taping over it, for which he was fined by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS).

The issue is related to the title sponsor: in May of last year, FIS signed a five-year agreement with the Azerbaijan State Tourism Agency, under which the country’s name appears on athletes’ uniforms at many World Cup events.

The incident took place in the Italian town of Toblach. According to the Swedish publication Expressen, Mikaelyan refused to provide a detailed explanation for his actions and stated that he might boycott competitions if similar fines are imposed again. Meanwhile, his sporting results in Toblach were also unsuccessful — he placed 72nd, 87th, and 118th in various disciplines.

It should be noted that at the Tour de Ski, Azerbaijan’s branding was displayed not only on athletes’ uniforms but also extensively on advertising boards along the entire course. This spring, Azerbaijan will also host a World Cup moguls stage in Shahdag on March 14–15.