Hot-dog eating competition crashed by ex-champion

Spectators at an international hot-dog eating contest were treated to high drama on Saturday when a former world champion was arrested on stage after disrupting the awards ceremony.

Takeru Kobayashi, a veritable legend in the world of competitive hot-dog eating, has broken the world record three times and won the July 4 Nathan's Famous Hot-Dog Eating Contest competition six times in a row since his debut in 2001.

His success is based on a special method of eating. First he splits the frankfurter in half, swallowing both parts at once. He then dips the bun in water, Sprite or 7-Up before stuffing it in his mouth.

Unfortunately contract disputes with Major League Eating (MLE) meant that he was not allowed to compete this year, but that didn't stop him from stealing the show. While new champion Joey Chestnut was being awarded the winners' mustard yellow belt, Kobiyashi jumped a barrier and attempted to get up onto the stage as the crowd chanted: "Let him eat."

Police tried to remove him but Kobayashi, wearing a 'Free Kobi' T-shirt, refused to go quietly, clinging onto a barrier when they tried to drag him away.

What exactly Kobayashi was trying to achieve is unclear. Yuki James, one of Kobi's own publicists, said: "Kobayashi was trying to prove he was better than other competitors."

More likely he was responding to a jibe from the tournament winner Joey 'Jaws' Chestnut who, in a post-eat interview, said: "If he was a man he'd be up on stage" – referring to the contract dispute.

Kobayashi faces charges of resisting arrest, interfering with a police officer, and disorderly conduct. ·