BEIJING • Jason Turner loaded his parents in a taxi and hopped aboard a bus to the athletes’ village when he received a phone call that changed his life.

It was USA Shooting team leader Dwayne Weger, telling the Olympic Training Center resident he had won an Olympic bronze medal in 10-meter air pistol because another shooter had tested positive for a banned substance.

“Maybe it will hit me when they put the medal around my neck,” Turner said.

That will happen today in a makeshift medal ceremony at the Beijing Games, giving Turner, 33, the biggest prize in a largely successful shooting career and the U.S. its first pistol medal in 20 years.

The International Olympic Committee stripped North Korean Kim Jong Su of bronze in air pistol and silver in 50-meter pistol Friday for testing positive for propanolol, a beta blocker that reduces trembling in the hands.

In the Aug. 9 air pistol competition, China’s Pang Wei edged South Korean Jin Jong Oh for gold, and Kim took third, one point ahead of Turner and American Brian Beaman.Since Turner and Beaman were tied, they had a one-shot playoff. Turner posted a 10.5 and Beaman marked a 10.3, making Turner the fourth-place finisher.

“It was like splitting hairs,” said Turner, a bartender at a Texas Roadhouse in Colorado Springs. “You do the shoot-off, and it’s just like every other shot during the match. You try to shoot the best shot you can.”

The shot provides Turner with the missing piece in his medal collection.

After all, the two-time Olympian has a Pan American Games gold medal, two Pan American Championships golds, nine national championships medals and numerous medals from international competitions.

“All my friends know, my teammates,” Turner said. “I’ve had other people that I’ve made friends with around the world come up and tell me congratulations, and they know. That’s what matters.”

Turner chuckled when asked why a shooter would dope.

“You hear beta blockers help you,” he said. “I would assume it would help if people do it, but I have no idea. It’s not very often you see a shooter test positive.”-CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0256 or brian.gomez@gazettedev.gazette.com. Check out our Olympics blog at gazetteolympics.freedomblogging.com

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