Editing Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest (section)

=== Competitor bans ===
Kobayashi has not competed in the contest since 2009 due to his refusal to sign an exclusive contract with Major League Eating, which is the current sanctioning body of the contest. In 2010, he was arrested by police after attempting to jump on the stage after the contest was over and disrupt the proceedings. Some witnesses reported that Kobayashi was attempting to congratulate the winner, Chestnut.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/415463-chestnut-wins-for-4th-straight-year-kobayashi-arrested|title=Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest 2010: Joey Chestnut Wins for Fourth Year|date=July 4, 2010|publisher=[[Bleacher Report]]|access-date=July 4, 2010|archive-date=October 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001221339/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/415463-chestnut-wins-for-4th-straight-year-kobayashi-arrested|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/07/04/2010-07-04_joey_jaws_chestnut_wins_nathans_july_fourth_hot_dog_eating_contest.html|title=Joey 'Jaws' Chestnut Wins Nathan's July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Contest|date=July 4, 2010|work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|access-date=July 4, 2010|archive-date=July 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706215818/http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/07/04/2010-07-04_joey_jaws_chestnut_wins_nathans_july_fourth_hot_dog_eating_contest.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/38086913/ns/sports-othersports/|title=Kobayashi Arrested After Chestnut's Hot Dog Win|date=July 4, 2010|publisher=[[NBC Sports]]|access-date=July 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709030959/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/38086913/ns/sports-othersports/|archive-date=July 9, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> On August 5, 2010, all charges against Kobayashi were dismissed by a judge in Brooklyn. Despite his six consecutive victories in their annual event, Nathan's removed Kobayashi's image from their "Wall of Fame" in 2011. Kobayashi again refused to compete in 2011, but instead conducted his own hot dog eating exhibition, consuming 69 HDB, seven more than Chestnut accomplished in the Nathan's contest.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://weirdnews.aol.com/2011/07/04/joey-chestnut-nathans-2011-hot-dog-contest_n_889722.html#s302839&title=Joey_Chestnut_Wins |title=Takeru Kobayashi Sets World Record With 69 Hot Dogs, Joey Chestnut Wins 2011 Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest |publisher=Weirdnews.aol.com |access-date=February 24, 2012 |archive-date=July 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707160533/http://weirdnews.aol.com/2011/07/04/joey-chestnut-nathans-2011-hot-dog-contest_n_889722.html#s302839&title=Joey_Chestnut_Wins |url-status=dead }}</ref> The sports website [[Deadspin]] deemed Kobayashi's solo appearance "an improbably perfect 'up yours' to the Nathan's hot dog eating contest."<ref>{{cite web |first=Luke |last=O'Brien |url=http://deadspin.com/5817974 |title=Kobayashi Somehow Sets A New, Totally Unofficial Hot Dog Eating Record |publisher=Deadspin.com |date=July 4, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2012 |archive-date=November 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106160340/https://deadspin.com/5817974 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Chestnut was banned from the 2024 contest due to signing a deal with Impossible Food, which sells plant based products including hot dogs. A Major League Eating executive claimed that Nathan's asked for an exemption to the deal be made regarding Impossible Food's hot dogs which was denied with Major League Eating banning Chestnut as a result.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2024/06/11/joey-chestnut-nathans-hot-dog-contest-impossible-foods/ Joey Chestnut barred from Nathan’s hot dog contest over Impossible Foods deal] [[Washington Post]]</ref><ref>[https://www.npr.org/2024/06/12/nx-s1-5003036/joey-chestnut-banned-nathans-hot-dog-eating-competition Hot dog-eating champ Joey Chestnut won't compete this July 4. What’s the beef?] [[NPR]]</ref> On June 25, Chestnut instead agreed to attend [[Fort Bliss]]' Pop Goes the Fort celebration and compete in a 4 versus 1 eating competition with a five minute time limit,<ref>[https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas/2024/06/27/joey-chesnut-july-4-2024/ Banned from Nathan’s, hot dog-eating champion Joey Chestnut will compete in Texas] [[The Dallas Morning News]]</ref><ref>[https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10126420-joey-chestnut-to-face-soldiers-in-hot-dog-eating-contest-on-july-4-amid-nathans-ban Joey Chestnut to Face Soldiers in Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4 amid Nathan's Ban] [[Bleacher Report]]</ref> with Chestnut prevailing 57 to 49 while raising $106,000 for [[Operation Homefront]].<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2024/07/05/nx-s1-5030161/joey-chestnut-hot-dog-contest-fort-bliss-coney-island Joey Chestnut, banned from Coney Island, takes his hot dog-eating skills to Fort Bliss] [[NPR]]</ref>