The SPEED: Sports Performance and Physical Education Development journal is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. We strive to ensure that the research we publish is of the highest quality, original, and free from misconduct. Our ethical guidelines are based on principles of transparency, honesty, integrity, and fairness. These guidelines are intended to ensure that all individuals involved in the publication process, including authors, reviewers, editors, and publishers, adhere to ethical and professional standards.

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to SPEED must ensure the following:

• Originality: Authors must ensure that their manuscripts are original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere. Plagiarism in any form, including self-plagiarism, is unacceptable.

• Authorship: Only individuals who have made a significant contribution to the research should be listed as authors. All authors must approve the manuscript and its submission. The order of authorship should reflect each individual’s contribution to the research.

• Data Integrity: Authors must provide accurate and reliable data in their manuscripts. Any data fabrication or falsification is considered a breach of ethical standards. Authors must retain raw data for future reference if requested by editors or reviewers.

• Conflict of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial, personal, or professional conflicts of interest that could influence the interpretation of their research findings. This includes funding sources or any relationships with organizations that may be perceived as a conflict.

• Informed Consent: If the research involves human participants, authors must ensure that informed consent has been obtained from participants. Ethical approval from an institutional review board (IRB) or ethics committee should also be obtained and stated in the manuscript.

• Acknowledgment of Sources: Authors must appropriately cite all sources, including data, texts, and ideas, that are not their own. Proper referencing is essential to avoid plagiarism and to give credit to the original creators of the work.

• Multiple Submissions: Authors should not submit the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously. If an author withdraws a manuscript, they must promptly notify the journal and provide an explanation.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are essential to maintaining the quality and integrity of the journal. The responsibilities of reviewers include:

• Objectivity and Confidentiality: Reviewers must evaluate manuscripts objectively, focusing on the quality of the research, its methodology, and its contribution to the field. Reviewers must maintain confidentiality and not share the contents of the manuscript with others.

• Timeliness: Reviewers should provide feedback within the designated time frame. If a reviewer is unable to review a manuscript within the given time, they should notify the editor and decline the review request.

• Conflicts of Interest: Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that may affect their objectivity. If a reviewer has a personal, professional, or financial relationship with the authors, they must recuse themselves from reviewing the manuscript.

• Constructive Feedback: Reviewers should provide constructive feedback to authors, suggesting ways to improve the manuscript. Criticism should be framed respectfully and focused on the content, not the authors.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

Editors play a vital role in maintaining the ethical standards of SPEED. The responsibilities of editors include:

• Fairness and Objectivity: Editors must evaluate manuscripts based on their scientific merit, originality, and relevance to the journal’s scope, without any bias toward the authors’ nationality, gender, institutional affiliation, or other factors.

• Confidentiality: Editors must ensure that all manuscripts and associated materials are treated as confidential. Manuscripts should not be discussed or shared with anyone not involved in the review or editorial process.

• Conflict of Interest: Editors must disclose any conflicts of interest and avoid handling manuscripts in which they have a personal or professional relationship with the authors. In case of any conflict, the manuscript should be reassigned to another editor.

• Decision-Making: Editors are responsible for making the final decision on a manuscript’s acceptance or rejection based on the reviewers’ feedback and the overall quality of the research. The editor’s decision should be made without bias and based solely on the manuscript’s academic merit.

• Accountability for Published Content: Editors should ensure that the published articles comply with ethical standards, including appropriate referencing, transparency in data reporting, and correct ethical approvals.

4. Ethical Responsibilities of Publishers

The publisher of SPEED is responsible for ensuring the ethical standards of the journal and supporting the editorial process. The publisher's responsibilities include:

• Ensuring Ethical Standards: The publisher must work with the editorial team to implement and enforce ethical guidelines and resolve any conflicts or ethical issues that may arise.

• Transparency: The publisher must ensure that all editorial processes, including the peer review process, are transparent and free from interference. The publisher should also ensure that ethical issues such as plagiarism, conflicts of interest, and data falsification are addressed promptly.

• Support for the Editorial Team: The publisher should provide the necessary support and resources to the editorial team to maintain the journal’s integrity and ethical standards.

5. Plagiarism and Ethical Violations

SPEED uses plagiarism detection software to identify potential plagiarism in submitted manuscripts. Any form of plagiarism, including data manipulation, copy-pasting without proper citation, or self-plagiarism, will result in immediate rejection of the manuscript.

If ethical violations are detected after publication, the journal will take appropriate action, including issuing corrections, retractions, or further investigations if necessary.

6. Retraction Policy

If errors or misconduct are identified in a published article, such as plagiarism, fraudulent data, or unethical research practices, the journal will issue a retraction. The retraction notice will explain the reason for the retraction and provide an opportunity for the authors to respond or clarify any issues.

7. Conclusion

By adhering to these ethical guidelines, SPEED aims to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity and contribute positively to the field of sports performance and physical education development. We encourage all authors, reviewers, and editors to act ethically and with professionalism throughout the publication process.