Amidst the excitement of this year’s Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, New York, allegations of cheating have emerged involving competitive eater Nick Wehry. Wehry, who finished fourth in the competition with an official score of 51.75 hot dogs eaten, is now under scrutiny following claims that he may have only consumed 46.75 hot dogs.

 

Sources cited by the New York Post suggest that Wehry may have manipulated his score by surreptitiously adding a plate after the contest had concluded. Despite denying any wrongdoing, video footage from the event appears to show Wehry handling plates post-competition, casting doubt on the accuracy of his tally.

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Participants’ scores are calculated by the number of empty plates left in front of their designated spot at the end of the allotted time. Each plate on the competition table is initially filled with five hot dogs. Therefore, every empty plate represents the consumption of five hot dogs, as per the judges’ scoring criteria.

 

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The matter is currently under investigation by Major League Eating (MLE), the governing body overseeing competitive eating contests. MLE has not made any announcements regarding the status of the inquiry, leaving the fate of Wehry’s standing in the competition uncertain.

 

Wehry’s wife, Miki Sudo, a renowned competitive eater herself, has defended her husband, asserting that the judge’s decision was accurate. The victor of this year’s contest was Patrick Bertoletti, who clinched the title by consuming an impressive 58 hot dogs and walking away with the Mustard Belt and $10,000 prize.

 

The absence of Joey Chestnut, a dominant figure in competitive eating, added a layer of intrigue to the event. Chestnut was unable to participate due to a sponsorship disagreement but showcased his eating prowess by devouring 57 hot dogs at a U.S. Army base in El Paso, Texas.