Del Piero: It's a world problem

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Global problem ... Alessandro Del Piero says Australia is not alone its sporting problems. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Italian soccer superstar Alessandro Del Piero, playing his first season with the A-League's Sydney FC, says issues of doping and match-fixing are a global problem.

The Australian Crime Commission (ACC) report into drugs in sport has illustrated that despite the tyranny of distance the country is not immune to the shadowy networks seeking to influence and profit from modern sport at all levels.

As disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong faces the prospect of jail time, Europol raised allegations of match-fixing in hundreds of games worldwide and Spain's anti-doping agency is investigating allegations doping practices have spread from cycling into football.

It is a situation that has evolved over the past 24 hours in a shocking parallel to events in Australia.

During Del Piero's time at Juventus the esteemed Italian football club was involved in a match-fixing scandal in 2006, when their punishments included being relegated and stripped of two Serie A titles.

Asked for his reaction to revelations from the ACC regarding widespread doping and possible match-fixing Del Piero said on Friday: ''It is a serious problem''.

''It's not only an Australian problem it's all the world a problem, it's not a good thing.''

Asked if Australia could learn anything from Italy's experiences with corruption Del Piero said: ''I don't know if there is corruption here.

''I don't know what is the level of doping, it's just the start of the situation now.''

In Paris, tennis great Rafael Nadal has echoed the sentiments of the likes of senior rugby league figure Phil Gould here in Australia that all sportspeople are being tarred with the same brush of doping.

Nadal wants the names of those implicated in the ''Operation Puerto'' trial into blood doping to be provided to clear others of wrongdoing.

''I don't understand why we never get to the bottom of these things,'' Nadal said.

''We need to clean everything up. I believe this doctor has worked with foreign athletes but because he is Spanish it is Spanish sport that is being prejudiced.

''As an athlete that hurts me. Because of people like (US cyclist Lance) Armstrong, we all have a dubious image.''

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