Nathan’s hot dog eating competitor denies cheating allegations

(NewsNation) — A Major League Eating star is embroiled in a cheating scandal, accused of stealing his opponent’s plates during the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest to inflate his score and secure a spot among elite competitive eaters.

Nick Wehry finished fourth with a score of 51.75, according to the MLE’s official ranking. However, two sources closely involved in the competition cited “footage and reports” from the day of the competition that reflect a different score, the New York Post reported.

How can someone cheat in a hot dog eating contest?

Wehry allegedly used hand tricks to bump his tally of eaten hot dogs during the contest, the two sources told the New York Post.

The sources cited footage and claimed that Wehry’s actual total score in the 10-minute contest was 46.75 hot dogs, not the 51.75 that landed him in fourth place.

They also claim that Wehry stole plates from another competitor’s stack and added them to his own. Judges count the number of hot dogs eaten using those plates, each of which holds five hot dogs.

Footage from the competition, viewed by the New York Post, allegedly shows Wehry lingering around the competition table and “picking up and twirling a plate” after the clock hit zero.

‘I’d never want to take a placing I didn’t earn’: Wehry

Wehry has denied any wrongdoing, stating he would “never cheat” and would want any mistakes corrected.

“If MLE determines I was miscounted then fix my number. My placing did not change if this was the case. I would never want to take a placing or number I didn’t earn. I would never cheat at a contest, regardless of why. People that know me know that,” Wehry told the New York Post.

Wehry is also the husband of Miki Sudo, the women’s division champion and a 10-time champion. Sudo ate 51 hot dogs in 10 minutes, setting a new world record for women. The 38-year-old defending champion last year won after eating 39 1/2 hot dogs, while her personal best is 48 1/2, the women’s world record.

How is the Major League Eating responding?

Major League Eating, which sanctions Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest and oversees the official judging, stated that it investigated after becoming aware of the accusations against Wehry.

“It is not our policy to overturn the judges’ final decision,” MLE said.

Wehry is set to compete in a blueberry eating contest Saturday.

NewsNation reached out to Nathan’s Famous for comment but has not yet received a response.