Competitive eating scandal rocks the nathon. Lo, the seamy underbelly of competitive gluttony:

Chestnut’s main rival, six-time champ Takeru Kobayashi, never competed. He was unable to reach a contract agreement with Major League Eating.

“If he were a real man he’d be on the stage,” Chestnut told ESPN. “There’s no reason for him not to be here.”

Kobayashi was at the event, and went on stage after the competition. Police officers tried to drag him away as he held onto barricades and he was taken into custody, The Associated Press reported.

Kobayashi’s absence from the competition left Chestnut free to scarf his way to victory. His 54 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes was short of his own record — 68 — set in 2009.