For these purposes, the retrospective periods in which prior violations can be considere d for purposes of multiple violations under Article 10.9.4 and the statute of limitations set forth in Article 1 6 are procedural rules, not substantive rules, and should be applied retroactively along with all of the other procedural  ITTF  2021 Anti -Doping Rules  Page 53 of 61 rules in these Anti -Doping Rules (provided, however, that Article 1 6 shall only be applied retroactively if the statute of limitation period has not already expired by the Effective Date).