A massive cheating scandal has rocked the Major League Eating circuit following the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Contest, and it has nothing to do with the contents of the all-beef hot dog.
Nick Wehry, the fourth-place finisher on July 4 and husband of women’s champion Miki Sudo, has been accused by two anonymous sources of skillfully stealing plates from another competitor to inflate his own total. Wehry has denied the allegations.
“He cheated 100%,” a source said The New York Post.
During the competition, participants are given paper plates with five hot dogs each. Totals are determined by counting the plates and subtracting any remaining hot dogs after the time has elapsed.
Wehry was credited with 46.75 hot dogs on July 4, but that number grew to 51.75 on the Major League Eating (MLE) website. And as one of the two sources told the Post, “I can only assume [Wehry] demanded a recount after he stole the board.’
Contestant Nick Wehry to Enter 2024 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest
Number four Nick Wehry denies allegations he cheated on July 4
The alleged cheating did not improve his position in the final standings, as Wehry would have finished fourth anyway. However, it did push his total over the 50 franc mark, which one source said was the reason for the alleged duplicity.
“There are a few people who have eaten 40 hot dogs in this competition before, there are far fewer who have eaten more than 50, and even fewer who have eaten more than 60,” a source told The Post.
‘If someone officially declares that he has eaten more than 50 grams, he belongs to a small, elite club of fanatic eaters.’
Interestingly, Wehry’s wife Miki Sudo devoured 51 hot dogs in 10 minutes last week at Coney Island, setting a world record for women.
Wehry told the Post he “didn’t steal anything” and denies “demanding a recount.”
“If MLE determines I was miscounted, please correct my number. My placement would not have changed if this was the case. I would never want to take a placement or number that I did not earn,” Wehry told the Post via text message.
“I would never cheat in a game, no matter the reason,” he added. “People who know me know that.”
Nick Wehry and Miki Sudo stare at each other during a weigh-in ahead of the July 4 event
Video of the event shows Wehry hovering around the table, holding a sign as he chats with his closest rival. Nothing definitive can be gleaned from the YouTube clip, however.
“I think the video looks like I was mis-plated,” Wehry told the Post. “I’m truly sorry if that’s the case.”
Sudo defended her husband during a telephone conversation with the Post.
“I had my eye on Nick the whole time, there was a camera on him the whole time, there is no way the jury could have gotten it wrong,” she said before abruptly hanging up.
MLE has since issued a vague statement saying the organization has investigated the allegations, but has said little more.
“MLE has conducted an investigation, carefully considered the complaint and reviewed the video footage provided to us,” the statement to the Post said. “Like many other professional sports leagues, it is our policy not to overturn the decisions of judges after the final results have been recorded.”