Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

J. Sport Mov. Sci. is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and integrity throughout all stages of the editorial and publishing process. The journal adheres to the principles and guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for:

  • Evaluating submitted manuscripts based on their scientific merit, originality, and contribution to the field.
  • Ensuring a fair, unbiased, and confidential peer-review process regardless of the authors’ identity, affiliation, or background.
  • Managing potential conflicts of interest appropriately.
  • Taking necessary actions in cases of suspected ethical misconduct in accordance with COPE guidelines.

2. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Maintain confidentiality throughout the review process.
  • Provide objective, constructive, and evidence-based feedback.
  • Declare any conflicts of interest and decline review when appropriate.
  • Notify the editor of any suspected ethical issues or misconduct.

3. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors must:

  • Ensure that their work is original and has not been previously published or submitted elsewhere.
  • Avoid simultaneous submissions to multiple journals.
  • Accurately represent authorship and include all contributors appropriately.
  • Obtain and clearly state ethical approval for studies involving human participants or animals.
  • Properly cite all sources and references used in the manuscript.

4. Ethical Misconduct (Malpractice)

The following practices are considered unethical:

  • Plagiarism: Using others’ work, ideas, or data without proper citation.
  • Fabrication and Falsification: Making up data or manipulating research findings.
  • Duplicate Publication: Publishing the same work in more than one journal.
  • Salami Slicing: Fragmenting a single study into multiple publications inappropriately.
  • Authorship Misconduct: Including individuals who did not contribute or excluding those who did.
  • Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest.

5. Procedures for Handling Ethical Violations

In cases of suspected misconduct, the journal follows COPE guidelines and procedures:

  • The authors will be asked to provide an explanation.
  • Institutions or relevant bodies may be contacted if necessary.
  • If misconduct is confirmed:
    • The manuscript will be rejected or retracted if already published,
    • A formal notice may be issued,
    • Authors may face restrictions on future submissions.

6. Transparency and Accountability

The journal is committed to transparency and accountability in all editorial processes and enforces a zero-tolerance policy toward ethical violations.