1. Definition of Plagiarism and Text Recycling: Plagiarism involves the unacknowledged copying of text, ideas, images, or data from other sources. Furthermore, Sport-Mu also monitors for self-plagiarism, or text recycling, which occurs when an author reuses sections of their own previously published texts without proper citation, as outlined in the COPE Guidelines on Text Recycling. All authors must ensure that their submitted work is entirely original and that any external sources or previous works are appropriately cited.

2. Detection and Handling of Plagiarism in Submitted Manuscripts: All manuscripts submitted to Sport-Mu are subjected to a rigorous similarity check using specialized anti-plagiarism software (such as Turnitin) before undergoing peer review. To be eligible for peer review, submitted manuscripts must have an overall similarity index of no more than 20% by Turnitin. If suspected plagiarism or an unacceptable similarity score exceeding this threshold is identified in a submitted manuscript, the editorial board will take immediate action by following the step-by-step procedures in the COPE Flowchart for Suspected Plagiarism in a Submitted Manuscript. This process includes contacting the corresponding author to request an explanation and may result in the rejection of the manuscript.

3. Addressing Plagiarism in Published Articles: In the event that plagiarism is discovered after an article has already been published in Sport-Mu, the journal remains responsible for addressing the ethical breach. The editors will carefully investigate the allegations in accordance with the COPE Flowchart for Suspected Plagiarism in a Published Article. During this investigation, we will communicate with the authors and, if necessary, their affiliated institutions to resolve the issue.

4. Retractions and Corrections: If an investigation confirms that extensive plagiarism or severe ethical misconduct has occurred in a published paper, Sport-Mu reserves the right to issue a formal retraction. All retractions will be executed transparently and decisively, guided by the COPE Retraction Guidelines, ensuring that the academic record is corrected and readers are informed of the invalidity of the published work.

5. Handling Allegations of Misconduct: Sport-Mu encourages reviewers, readers, and other stakeholders to report any suspicions of plagiarism. We take all allegations seriously and will manage them confidentially and objectively. The editorial team handles all disputes and allegations following the COPE Guidelines for Handling Allegations of Misconduct, ensuring a fair investigation process for all parties involved.