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Controversy at hot dog contest

Joey Chestnut can put away the hot dogs. He’s off his 2009record pace, but he’s eight franks ahead of where he was last year. Chestnut took the stage at Coney Island Monday and gobbled 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes, winning his fifth Mustard Yellow Belt in a row at Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Contest.

Last year, Chestnut devoured 54 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

There was controversy. Across town, Chestnut’s nemesis Takeru Kobayashi ate 69 wieners, seven more than Chestnut and one more than Chestnut’s world record. Kobayashi has a contract beef with Major League Eating, and was barred from the Coney Island event. As a result, Major League Eating won’t recognize Kobayashi’s total.

Sonya Thomas, “The Black Widow,” is no slouch either. She took the women’s division crown, eating 40 hot dogs in the contest.

The contest was founded 96 years ago.