from Andrew Gross of the Record,

Now running the NHL Players' Association and not baseball's players' union, Don Fehr could defer all questions on Alex Rodriguez and his looming suspension in the Biogenesis scandal on the basis of not being in the loop.

However, Fehr made it clear that A-Rod had every right to appeal the suspension, something the other 13 players handed bans chose not to do.

"All I can say is that I have complete confidence in the team that's there to represent the players to the best of their ability," Fehr said Thursday at Yankee Stadium as he was on hand for the announcement of outdoor hockey games between the Rangers and Devils on Jan. 26 and the Rangers and Islanders on Jan. 29.

"Any player, if he wants to have a hearing, it's an absolute right to have a hearing and the facts will be what the facts are," Fehr added....

Fehr had little to say when asked about the lack of performance-enhancing drug scandals in hockey, other than the NHLPA was satisfied with hockey's drug-testing program.

"Maybe the culture is different," Fehr said.

a bit more...