Professional competitive eater Joey “Jaws” Chestnut will be permitted to participate in this year’s Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest while serving probation following his conviction on a misdemeanor battery charge.
The 17-time champion and current titleholder entered his guilty plea on April 20 and received a 180-day probation sentence in Hamilton County, Indiana. A judge approved his request for out-of-state travel, enabling him to compete for the signature Mustard Belt at the July 4th event on Coney Island.
According to Us Weekly, the competitive eating star was charged after allegedly striking a man in the face during a late-night incident at an Indiana bar. When authorities questioned him about the incident, he reportedly stated he had been drinking and could not recall the confrontation.
Chestnut’s legal representative, Mario Massillamany, has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.
Major League Eating co-founder and president Richard Shea confirmed to The Associated Press that the incident would not impact the competitor’s eligibility for the contest.
“This incident did not violate Major League Eating’s code of conduct, as it occurred outside any organizational event or activity and it was addressed by local authorities,” Shea said.
During last year’s Nathan’s Famous competition, the eating champion reclaimed his title by consuming 70 1/2 hot dogs and buns within the 10-minute time limit. He had been unable to compete in 2024 after Nathan’s temporarily prohibited his participation due to a sponsorship agreement with plant-based meat producer Impossible Foods.
His most recent victory came at the 2026 Ultimate Bologna Showdown in Tennessee, where he claimed his third consecutive championship by eating 16 pounds of sausage in 8 minutes, establishing a new world record.
