Journal Policies on Handling Potential Conflicts of Interest

The Journal of Sports Research and Innovation (JSRI) is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and impartiality in its editorial processes. To maintain transparency and ensure the integrity of our publications, the following policies govern the handling of potential conflicts of interest involving editors, authors, and reviewers:

1. Editors:

a. Disclosure: Editors must disclose any personal, financial, or professional relationships that could potentially influence their editorial decisions. Such relationships may include employment, consulting arrangements, collaborations, or direct competition with authors.

b. Recusal: If an editor has a significant conflict of interest related to a submitted manuscript, they must recuse themselves from the editorial handling of that manuscript. In such cases, another editor or editorial board member will be assigned to oversee the review process.

c. Impartiality: Editors are expected to remain impartial and objective in their editorial decisions, regardless of any personal or professional relationships they may have with authors or institutions.

2. Authors:

a. Disclosure: Authors are required to disclose all potential conflicts of interest that could influence the interpretation or perception of their research findings. This includes financial interests, affiliations, and any other relevant relationships.

b. Transparency: Authors should provide a clear and comprehensive statement of any potential conflicts of interest in their manuscript, including sources of funding and affiliations with relevant organizations.

3. Reviewers:

a. Disclosure: Reviewers are expected to disclose any conflicts of interest that may compromise their ability to provide an unbiased and objective assessment of the manuscript. This includes personal, professional, or financial relationships with the authors or institutions involved in the research.

b. Impartiality: Reviewers must evaluate manuscripts solely based on their scholarly merit, regardless of any personal relationships or affiliations with the authors. If a conflict of interest is identified during the review process, the reviewer should notify the editorial office promptly.

4. Handling Conflicts of Interest:

a. Assessment: The editorial office will assess disclosed conflicts of interest and determine the appropriate course of action. This may include assigning a different editor or reviewer to handle the manuscript or seeking additional input from independent experts.

b. Resolution: Conflicts of interest will be addressed transparently and impartially to maintain the integrity of the peer review process. Authors, reviewers, and editors will be notified of any actions taken to address identified conflicts of interest.

c. Confidentiality: Information related to conflicts of interest will be treated confidentially, and only individuals directly involved in the editorial process will have access to such information.

JSRI is committed to fostering a culture of integrity and transparency in scholarly publishing. By adhering to these policies, we aim to uphold the trust and confidence of our readers, authors, reviewers, and the broader research community.

Note: These policies are subject to periodic review and may be updated as needed to reflect evolving best practices and ethical standards in scholarly publishing.