CRISFIELD, Md.- Crisfield's National Hard Crab Derby crab-picking contest ended last weekend with no winner chosen following accusations that the one of the pickers cheated.

The contest is one of the event's main attractions, in which contestants race to pick the most crabs in 10 minutes. On Saturday, nine out of the 10 contestants claimed one of the pickers cheated.

The contestant accused of cheating - defending champion Hazel "Hurricane" Cropper - says she had no reason to cheat.

"Them saying I brought crab meat, now how can you do that when you looking at a whole crowd of people spectators watching you?" she said. "The reporters got the camera right on you but yet, still that allegation was made,"

The other contestants claimed Cropper brought her own crab meat to add to the weight. The event organizers and judges say the contest has no specific written rules and is based off tradition and professionalism. Their decision to determine no winner came when it was clear they could not prove there was cheating.

Janice Marshall, one of the contest's judges said, "A little controversy started around the crab pickers so most of the officials was up to the weigh-in table when this started and some of the crab pickers think there was too much claw meat. And it might have been claw meat took in, but as far as I'm concerned I didn't see anything and I'm not accusing."

Officials say they have begun to re-evaluate the contest's rules and guidelines. They said this year's controversy will not stop the annual event from happening next year.