Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

SPORTICA: Journal of Sport Science and Physical Education is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and integrity. This statement outlines the ethical principles and responsibilities of all parties involved in the publication process — the editor, editorial board, reviewers, authors, and the publisher (Mandalika Indonesia Institut).
The journal adheres to the ethical guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Duties of Editors

  • Fair and Impartial Evaluation: Editors evaluate manuscripts based solely on academic merit, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal’s scope, without regard to the authors’ identity, gender, nationality, or beliefs.
  • Confidentiality: Editors must not disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, and the publisher.
  • Decision-Making: Editors are responsible for deciding which manuscripts will be published, ensuring that decisions are based on the results of peer review and academic significance.
  • Conflict of Interest: Editors must avoid any conflict of interest and not use unpublished materials from submitted manuscripts for their own research.

2. Duties of Reviewers

  • Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents and not share them with others.
  • Objectivity: Reviews should be conducted objectively, providing clear, constructive, and evidence-based feedback.
  • Acknowledgement of Sources: Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors and report any potential plagiarism or ethical concerns.
  • Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must decline to review manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest due to relationships with the authors or their institutions.

3. Duties of Authors

  • Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that their manuscripts are entirely original. If the work or words of others are used, they must be properly cited. All submissions are screened using plagiarism detection software before review.
  • Multiple or Redundant Publication: Authors should not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal at the same time.
  • Authorship of the Paper: Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the research. All contributors must be listed as co-authors.
  • Acknowledgement of Sources: Authors must properly cite all sources that have influenced their work.
  • Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest.
  • Reporting Standards: Authors should present accurate and honest data, avoiding fabrication, falsification, or misrepresentation.

4. Duties of the Publisher

  • Editorial Independence: Mandalika Indonesia Institut, as the publisher, guarantees editorial independence, ensuring that decisions are based solely on academic merit.
  • Ethical Oversight: The publisher supports the journal in maintaining ethical standards and resolving any suspected cases of misconduct.
  • Archiving and Access: The publisher ensures the digital preservation and long-term accessibility of all published articles through LOCKSS, CLOCKSS, and institutional repositories.

5. Plagiarism Policy

SPORTICA strictly prohibits plagiarism and self-plagiarism in all forms. All submitted manuscripts will be screened using plagiarism detection software (such as Turnitin before being sent for peer review.

  • The maximum acceptable similarity index is 30% (excluding references and quotations).
  • Manuscripts exceeding this threshold will be returned to the author for revision or rejected outright.
  • Proper citation is required for all borrowed materials, including text, figures, and data.
  • Authors are responsible for obtaining permissions for any reused copyrighted material.
  • Confirmed cases of plagiarism will result in immediate rejection and notification to the author’s institution.

The journal follows the COPE flowcharts and ethical guidelines in handling all cases of plagiarism and publication misconduct.

6. Allegations of Misconduct

SPORTICA treats all allegations of ethical misconduct seriously. Cases involving plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, or unethical research practices will be investigated in accordance with COPE procedures. Appropriate corrective actions — including correction, retraction, or publication ban — will be taken when misconduct is verified.