Ex-hot dog eating champ held

Police arrested a former Japanese speed-eating champion in New York after he tried to disrupt a traditional hot dog eating contest that he has won six times in the past.

Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi, who had earlier pulled out of the contest, tried to storm the stage and disrupt Sunday's victory ceremony.

Despite attempts by Kobayashi to disrupt the event, American Joey "Jaws" Chestnut ate his way to victory in the contest by wolfing down 54 hot dogs in just 10 minutes.

The crowd chanted, "Let him eat! Let him eat!" But police slapped handcuffs on Kobayashi.

Chestnut, the 26-year-old reigning champion, left the rest of the competition trailing as he retained the coveted prize, a mustard-yellow prize-fighter's belt, with room to spare.

Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest is the Super Bowl of competitive eating and the belt, which comes along with a purse of $20,000 (Dh73,458), is considered the holy grail.

The event has become so popular in the United States that it is shown live on the cable channel ESPN and thousands turned out in a festival-like atmosphere on Sunday as temperatures soared above 32º C.

The New York Police Department later confirmed that 32-year-old Kobayashi had been arrested and charged with resisting arrest, trespassing, and obstructing governmental administration.

Kobayashi still retains various records from other competitions, including eating 57 cow brains in 15 minutes and 41 lobster rolls in 10 minutes.