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Major League Eating announced on Tuesday that Joey Chestnut is unable to participate in the 2024 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest after he partnered with a rival brand.
Chestnut recently signed a deal with Impossible Foods, a rival of Nathan's that has launched a vegan wiener.
Thus, Major League Eating ruled that as long as the 16-time winner of the contest has a deal with Impossible Foods, he will not be allowed to compete at the July 4 spectacle.
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Competitive eater Joey Chestnut attends a weigh-in ceremony before the Nathan's Famous July Fourth hot dog eating contest, Monday, July 3, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Chestnut said on X, formerly Twitter, that he learned he was "banned" from the event through social media.
"I was gutted to learn from the media that after 19 years Im [sic] banned from the Nathan's July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest," Chestnut wrote. "I love competing in that event, I love celebrating America with my fans all over this great country on the 4th and I have been training to defend my title.
"To set the record straight, I do not have a contract with MLE or Nathans and they are looking to change the rules from past years as it relates to other partners I can work with. This is apparently the basis on which I’m being banned, and it doesn’t impact the July 4th event.
Competitive eater Joey Chestnut competes in the Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island on July 4, 2012 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Chestnut won the men's division by successfully tying his own world record by eating 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes.
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