Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The Journal of Sport & Movement Sciences (JSMS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics, academic integrity, and transparency throughout the editorial and publication process. The journal follows the principles and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), and the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ).

All stakeholders involved in the publication process, including authors, reviewers, editors, editorial board members, and publishers, are expected to adhere to these ethical standards.

1. Editorial Responsibilities

Editors are responsible for ensuring the scientific quality and integrity of all published content.

Editors shall:

  • Evaluate manuscripts solely on their scientific merit, originality, methodological rigor, and relevance to the journal scope.
  • Ensure a fair, unbiased, and confidential peer-review process.
  • Maintain editorial independence and avoid discrimination based on race, gender, nationality, institutional affiliation, religious beliefs, or political views.
  • Prevent conflicts of interest from influencing editorial decisions.
  • Protect the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts.
  • Take appropriate action when ethical concerns arise.
  • Follow COPE flowcharts and recommendations when investigating ethical misconduct.

Editors may reject manuscripts without peer review if they are outside the journal scope, contain major methodological flaws, or fail to comply with ethical standards.

2. Peer Review Process

JSMS employs a Double-Blind Peer Review system.

Under this system:

  • Authors do not know the identity of reviewers.
  • Reviewers do not know the identity of authors.
  • Each manuscript is evaluated by at least two independent reviewers.
  • Reviewers should preferably be from institutions different from those of the authors.
  • Editorial decisions are based on reviewer recommendations and editorial assessment.

Possible editorial decisions include:

  • Accept
  • Minor Revision
  • Major Revision
  • Reject

Editors reserve the right to make the final decision regarding publication.

3. Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers play a crucial role in maintaining publication quality.

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Conduct reviews objectively and constructively.
  • Provide evidence-based recommendations.
  • Maintain confidentiality regarding manuscript content.
  • Identify relevant published work not cited by authors.
  • Notify editors of suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication, or ethical concerns.
  • Complete reviews within the assigned timeframe.
  • Decline review invitations when conflicts of interest exist.

Reviewers must not use unpublished information obtained through peer review for personal advantage.

4. Author Responsibilities

Authors are responsible for ensuring the integrity and accuracy of their work.

Authors must:

  • Submit only original work.
  • Ensure that manuscripts are not under consideration elsewhere.
  • Accurately report methods, analyses, and results.
  • Retain research data and provide access when requested.
  • Properly acknowledge all sources.
  • Obtain all necessary ethical approvals.
  • Disclose conflicts of interest.
  • Disclose funding sources.

Submission of a manuscript implies that all authors have approved the final version and agree to its submission.

5. Authorship Criteria

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made substantial contributions to:

  • Study conception and design,
  • Data collection,
  • Data analysis and interpretation,
  • Manuscript drafting,
  • Critical revision of the manuscript.

Individuals who contributed only technical assistance, language editing, supervision, or funding acquisition should be acknowledged but not listed as authors.

Ghost authorship, gift authorship, and honorary authorship are considered unethical.

6. Research Ethics

Human Participants

Research involving human participants must comply with:

  • The Declaration of Helsinki,
  • National ethical regulations,
  • Institutional ethical standards.

Authors must clearly report:

  • Ethics committee approval,
  • Name of ethics committee,
  • Approval date,
  • Approval number.

Informed consent must be obtained from all participants.

Vulnerable Populations

Additional ethical precautions are required for:

  • Children and adolescents,
  • Older adults,
  • Individuals with disabilities,
  • Vulnerable populations.

Parental or legal guardian consent must be obtained when necessary.

Animal Research

Research involving animals must comply with national and international animal welfare regulations.

Authors must provide:

  • Animal ethics committee approval,
  • Approval number,
  • Compliance statement regarding animal welfare.

Unnecessary harm to animals is strictly prohibited.

7. Data Integrity and Reproducibility

Authors are expected to:

  • Maintain accurate research records.
  • Preserve original data.
  • Provide data upon reasonable request.
  • Report findings honestly and transparently.

Data manipulation, image alteration, and selective reporting are strictly prohibited.

The journal reserves the right to request raw data during review or after publication.

8. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage Policy

Authors may use artificial intelligence tools for language improvement, grammar correction, or formatting assistance.

However:

  • AI systems cannot be listed as authors.
  • Authors remain fully responsible for all content.
  • AI-generated content must be carefully reviewed and verified.
  • Significant AI assistance must be disclosed in the manuscript.

Fabrication of data, references, images, or scientific content using AI is strictly prohibited.

9. Plagiarism Policy

JSMS applies a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism.

The following are considered unethical:

  • Direct plagiarism,
  • Mosaic plagiarism,
  • Self-plagiarism,
  • Unattributed paraphrasing,
  • Unauthorized use of data or images.

All manuscripts may be screened using similarity detection software.

When plagiarism is detected, the manuscript may be:

  • Rejected,
  • Returned for correction,
  • Retracted if already published.

10. Duplicate and Redundant Publication

Authors must not:

  • Submit the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously.
  • Publish substantially similar work in multiple venues.
  • Fragment a single study into multiple publications without scientific justification (salami slicing).

Such practices constitute publication misconduct.

11. Conflicts of Interest

All participants in the publication process must disclose potential conflicts of interest.

Conflicts may include:

  • Financial relationships,
  • Employment relationships,
  • Institutional affiliations,
  • Personal relationships,
  • Academic competition.

Editors may request additional information when necessary.

12. Funding Disclosure

Authors must disclose:

  • Funding agencies,
  • Grant numbers,
  • Institutional support.

If no funding was received, authors should state:

"The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article."

13. Editorial Independence

Editorial decisions are made independently of sponsors, institutions, publishers, and funding organizations.

No commercial or political influence is permitted in editorial decision-making.

14. Editorial Board and Editor Authored Manuscripts

To ensure impartiality:

  • Editors, assistant editors, and editorial board members may submit manuscripts to JSMS.
  • Such manuscripts are managed by an independent editor with no conflict of interest.
  • The submitting editor has no access to reviewer identities or editorial decisions.
  • Independent peer review procedures are applied.

15. Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

The journal may publish:

Correction (Erratum)

For minor errors that do not affect study conclusions.

Corrigendum

For author-reported errors.

Retraction

For serious ethical violations, including:

  • Plagiarism,
  • Fabrication,
  • Falsification,
  • Unethical research practices.

Expression of Concern

When an investigation is ongoing but unresolved.

16. Complaints and Appeals

Authors may appeal editorial decisions.

Appeals must:

  • Be submitted in writing,
  • Provide detailed scientific justification,
  • Be evaluated independently by the editorial office.

The Editor-in-Chief retains final authority regarding appeals.

17. Confidentiality

Editors and reviewers must not disclose:

  • Manuscript content,
  • Reviewer identities,
  • Author identities,
  • Editorial correspondence.

Confidential information obtained through peer review may not be used for personal benefit.

18. Publication Misconduct Procedures

When ethical misconduct is suspected:

  1. Preliminary assessment is conducted.
  2. Authors are contacted for explanation.
  3. Supporting evidence is reviewed.
  4. Institutions may be informed when necessary.
  5. COPE procedures are followed.

Possible sanctions include:

  • Rejection,
  • Retraction,
  • Publication bans,
  • Notification of institutions.

19. Open Access and Copyright

JSMS is an open-access journal.

All published articles are freely accessible without subscription or payment.

Authors retain copyright while granting the journal the right of first publication according to the journal's licensing policy.

20. Commitment to Ethical Publishing

JSMS maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward publication malpractice and is committed to promoting integrity, transparency, accountability, and scientific excellence in sport sciences research.