Armenian cross-country skier Mikayel Mikayelyan was recently fined during an international competition after covering the word “Azerbaijan” on his race uniform.

The incident has reignited concerns about sportswashing, particularly as Azerbaijan continues to expand its presence across global sporting federations — including winter sports where the country has little historical involvement.

In this episode of the ASN Podcast, Andre Khatchaturian and Jason Takhtadjian break down:

Why the skier chose to cover the name

How Azerbaijan became involved in international skiing

Whether this incident reflects a broader sportswashing strategy

📺 Listen, share and join the conversation.