The controversy surrounding the contract for Kazakhstani Olympic figure skating champion Mikhail Shaidorov has been resolved, the Minister of Tourism and Sports Yerbol Myrzabossynov said at a government briefing.
According to him, the contract with the figure skater has been signed and is the same standard agreement used for all athletes, including Olympians.
«The issue regarding Shaidorov’s contract has been fully resolved. The terms of the agreement were explained, and the contract has been signed. It is important to note that this is a standard contract signed by all athletes, not just Olympians. I would also like to note that it was drafted in line with international practice and the recommendations of the anti-doping agency and the Supreme Audit Chamber. Even under media pressure, we cannot create a separate contract for an individual athlete,» the minister said.
Responding to a question about the reasons for the situation, Myrzabossynov said the issue was caused by miscommunication between officials and the athlete’s agents.
«Mikhail and I reviewed the situation together and drew our conclusions. There were indeed communication failures on both sides — among agents and officials, so to speak — and the terms were explained incorrectly. That led to the situation we saw. Therefore, I consider the issue with Mikhail to be fully resolved. I believe it is time to put an end to this issue. It is very important for athletes to focus on preparing for the new season,» the minister replied.
He added that officials and agents on both sides faced administrative penalties.
Support from Kazakhstanis
Myrzabossynov separately thanked people in Kazakhstan who stood up for Shaidorov on social media.
«I would like to thank the public. Today we are ready to defend athletes both domestically and on the international stage,» the minister added.
Context
Earlier, Shaidorov made a public statement that he hadn’t received a salary since February, though he had planned a camp and set up new programs ahead of the upcoming season. After that, the Sports Development Directorate said the salaries for January and February 2026 had been settled, while the terms of a new contract were under discussion.
The athlete later said that after receiving remuneration for the past months, he would transfer it to support children marking International Children’s Day. On June 1, Vice Minister of Tourism and Sports Serik Zharasbayev said that the sides had reached an agreement and that the athlete had signed the contract. He promised that all salary obligations set out in the agreement would be fulfilled.
