For this purpose, the retrospective periods in which prior violations can be considered for purposes of multiple violations under Article 10.9.4 and the statute of limitations set out in Article 16 are procedural rules, not substantive rules, and should be applied retroactively, along with all the other procedural rules in these IBU Anti-Doping Rules (provided however that Article 16 will only be applied retroactively if the statute of limitations period – whether the original one or as extended by subsequent rules – has not already expired by the ADR Effective Date).