All-veggie hot-dog champ banned

Joey Chestnut, the defending champion of the annual Nathan's Famous hot dog eating competition that takes place on the Fourth of July on New York City's Coney Island, has been excluded from this year's event because he is sponsoring an all-veggie frankfurter of another brand, organizers said on Tuesday.

The New York Post reported that Chestnut, 40, had reached a deal to represent Impossible Foods, which recently introduced beef-substitute hot dogs.

"Joey and his managers have prioritized a new partnership with a different hot dog brand over our long-time relationship," organizer Major League Eating said. "We hope he returns when he is not representing a rival brand."

Chestnut, a construction engineer by trade and Indiana native, said in his own statement on X he was "gutted" to learn that he was being "banned" from the contest after 19 years. "To my fans, I love you and appreciate you," he wrote on X on Tuesday. "Rest assured that you'll see me eat again soon!! STAY HUNGRY!"